Attorney General James Uthmeier Files Emergency Rule; Immediately Removing Dangerous 7-OH from Store Shelves
Courtesy of the Office of Attorney General James Uthmeier
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General James Uthmeier announced that an emergency rule has been filed to classify isolated and/or concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) as a Schedule I controlled substance in Florida. The rule, which takes effect immediately, makes it illegal to sell, possess, or distribute any isolated or concentrated form of 7-OH in the state.
“Due to the danger posed to the public, Florida is taking 7-OH off the shelves immediately. This dangerous substance is being marketed to teens and young adults and has a high potential for abuse and death,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “We are grateful for President Trump and Dr. Makary for sounding the alarm—giving my office the foundation to protect Floridians.”
“Concentrated 7-OH products—which are dangerous opioids—snuck into every community in America right under our noses,” said FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H. “I’m glad to see Florida’s state officials fighting back and educating Floridian parents, law enforcement, professionals, teachers, and community leaders about this threat.”
“A few years ago, FDACS raised the alarm on kratom. We were not able to get the support we needed during the Biden years to treat 7-OH as a Schedule I drug, but we were able to prohibit the safe and marketing to Florida’s children,” said Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Wilton Simpson. “This emergency rule by Attorney General Uthmeier is exactly what we need to stop the sale of ‘vape shop morphine.’ Street level drugs hurt families, ruin lives, create victims, destroy our economy, and wreak havoc on our state. Today, we fight back with the force of law through this emergency rule. Today, we make Florida and our families a little safer.”
“Synthetic opioids derived from kratom pose a serious threat to both public and mental health,” said State Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo, M.D. “They undermine the intentions of individuals who use kratom safely and the progress we’ve made as a state to reduce overdose deaths.”
"We are here today because Dr. Marty Makary and the FDA have alerted us to the dangers of 7 OH," said Dr. Charles J. Lockwood, M.D., M.H.C.M., executive vice president of USF Health, dean of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, executive vice president and chief academic officer of Tampa General Hospital. "By doing so, they have given us an opportunity to save the lives of Floridians and prevent a health crisis. I am deeply grateful to see Attorney General James Uthmeier, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson, State Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, and our other state leaders seizing this moment and working to stop a spiral of deadly overdoses before it begins."
“7-OH mitragynine is a dangerous substance not only because of its chemical makeup, high potency and risk of addiction, but also due to the marketing and accessibility of the product. We’ve seen an increase of exposure in Florida, and it is essential that we bring awareness to the grave consequences of this lethal drug,” said Dr. Cory Howard, emergency medicine physician at Tampa General Hospital/USF Department of Emergency Medicine and a board-certified medical toxicologist who serves as associate medical director of Florida Poison Control Tampa. “We are grateful to FDA Commissioner Makary for his leadership in addressing this growing crisis, and we are proud to stand alongside state leaders Attorney General Uthmeier, Commissioner Simpson, and Surgeon General Ladapo as Florida leads the nation to restrict access to this dangerous substance.”
7-OH is a chemical compound found naturally in the kratom plant. While naturally occurring, levels are low in whole kratom leaves and isolated or concentrated forms of 7-OH—often found in extracts, shots, powders, or capsules—are much more potent. These products are frequently marketed as natural or wellness supplements but can lead to addiction, overdose, and other serious health effects.
The Florida Department of Health and local agencies have reported a recent increase in emergency room visits and adverse health incidents linked to kratom, particularly among individuals under the age of 25. The products are often sold in gas stations, vape shops, and convenience stores, sometimes in packaging designed to appeal to teens and young adults.
By classifying isolated and concentrated 7-OH as Schedule I, Florida law now treats these products in the same category as heroin, LSD, and fentanyl analogs—substances with a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use. The emergency rule empowers law enforcement and regulatory agencies to begin immediate enforcement and removal of these products from retail locations statewide.
This action follows previous steps taken by Attorney General Games Uthmeier to combat the marketing of harmful, addictive products to youth, including restrictions on vaping products that targeted minors.
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