TALHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Attorney General James Usmieire has issued an emergency rule classifying 7-hydroxymitraginine (7-OH), a high concentration compound derived from the Kratom plant, as a Schedule I controlled substance. The action will take effect immediately and prohibit the sale, possession and distribution of isolated or concentrated 7-OH throughout the state.
“Due to the dangers posed to the public, Florida is quickly removing 7-OH from the shelf,” Uthmeier said, noting that the compound is actively sold to teenagers and young people, and is at a high risk of abuse and fatal consequences.
The Florida emergency travel provides the first example of a state that bans this kratom by-product. Kratom in natural leaf or powder form remains unregulated at state level, but concentrated forms such as tablets, gummies, drinks, and shots are often sold as “wellness” supplements, but are now prohibited.
Speaking at the announcement, FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty McCurry praised the state’s actions, saying, “We’re focused on 7-OH products, a dangerous opioid, but please infiltrate all American communities just under our noses.”
Local authorities in the Florida Department of Health have flagged the recent rise in adverse health cases linked to emergency room visits and 7-OH, particularly among Floridians under the age of 25, with toxicology management reporting a significant increase in cases of exposure.
Medical instructors reflected the urgency. State surgeon Dr. Joseph Radapop highlighted the threat posed by synthetic kratom-derived opioids to public and mental health. Dr. Charles Lockwood, dean of USF Health’s Morsani College of Medicine, thanked state leaders for taking preemptive action to avoid the health crisis. Dr. Cory Howard, an emergency medical specialist and medical toxicologist at Tampa General Hospital, warned that 7-OH’s efficacy, accessibility and youth-oriented marketing are particularly dangerous.
As of Thursday, Florida Agricultural Consumer Services (FDACS) is requesting that they sell 7-OH products from shelves. The new rules place 7-OH with infamously dangerous and illegal substances such as heroin, LSD, and fentanyl analogs.
Not everyone supports a complete ban. Polachavenco, representative of the Holistic Alternative Recovery Trust (HART), said that research under Hart’s guidance showed a 30% reduction in opioid overdose, suggesting a potential role for Kratom when used under strict liability conditions. Chavenko argued that 7-OH scheduling could hamper scientific research and responsible access and instead advocate a regulatory framework that balances public safety, scientific research and individual freedom.
Florida’s latest regulatory steps demonstrate a robust effort to defeat synthetic kratom derivatives, particularly among young people, that pose a significant risk to public health. Emergency regulations allow law enforcement to act immediately to remove these products from the market despite continuing debate over the wider impact on research and overall alternatives.
