The Drug Enforcement Administration has advanced regulatory action on kratom-related substances that produce opioid-like effects in the body. Earlier in the summer, the agency issued two separate notices of intent: one targeting the psychoactive compound 7-OH and another addressing three related substances identified as MGPI, MGM-15, and MGM-16.
The regulatory timeline differs between the two actions. The public comment period for the 7-OH ban, which would technically constitute a rescheduling placing it at the same controlled substance level as heroin, has been extended to September 10. Meanwhile, the rule addressing the three related substances was finalized and went into effect this week.
All of these compounds operate on the same receptors in the body as opioids. Kratom leaves have been utilized in herbal medicine for centuries, and 7-OH occurs naturally within the leaf in minimal quantities. However, recent commercial developments have concentrated this compound into products designed for intoxicating effects.
The Trump administration initially proposed restrictions on 7-OH products last summer. Since that initial proposal, President Trump has demonstrated some inconsistency regarding the policy direction. Legislators have raised questions about potential connections between the kratom industry and health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., with some suggesting the proposed 7-OH ban could benefit specific companies within the sector.
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