Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has filed an emergency rule to classify concentrated 7-0H as a Schedule I controlled substance in Florida. That’s after the Federal Drug Administration has begun pursuing banning it nationally.
7-0H is a chemical compound found naturally in the kratom plant. Products containing the compound but in extracted, potent forms have been popping up in stores all over the country.
Uthmeier said during a press conference Wednesday the rule won’t target Kratom, but those concentrates, which have effects, and risks, similar to opioids.
“It is chemically manipulated in a way where it's very dense, and actually, I'm told by medical experts, can be up to up to 13 times more potent than morphine. So, it is a significant pain killer. It has been proven to be highly addictive and easily can be overdosed,” he said.
The rule makes it illegal to sell, possess, or distribute any isolated or concentrated form of 7-0H in the state. The FDA also declared last month that 7-OH is not a lawful dietary supplement, food additive, or ingredient in any approved drug.
Kratom advocates have expressed concern nationally scheduling the compound could impact all Kratom products. Some studies have suggested that Kratom can help ease opioid withdrawal symptoms, but the FDA has not yet approved Kratom for any medical use.
Paula Savchenko, an attorney at Cannacore Group, is concerned scheduling it as Schedule I may impede scientific research and undermine harm reduction efforts.
“We stand for a regulatory framework that safeguards public health, encourages responsible usage, and supports scientific inquiry, all without resorting to scheduling that could hamper both medical advancement and individual liberty,” she wrote in a statement after the press conference.
When asked about similar concerns at the press conference, Uthmeier said while research is being conducted, 7-0H should not be available at convenience stores.
“Potentially, there are health uses, certainly for Kratom, you know, maybe 7-0H, but again, that's with a prescription, a doctor's order, you know, good medical advice, not at the 711 sitting next to a pack of Skittles. We do not want kids to just have open access to this, given the power and the potency,” he said.