DEA plans to schedule synthetic kratom compound 7-OH as controlled substance
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The Drug Enforcement Administration intends to temporarily ban the synthetic kratom compound known as 7-OH. The agency plans to place the drug in the same category as heroin and LSD.
Amalgamated from The Hill (opens in new tab), Wired (opens in new tab), Wired (opens in new tab)
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) plans to implement a temporary ban on products containing certain synthetic versions of kratom, specifically a compound identified as 7-OH. According to reports from The Hill and Wired, the agency intends to schedule the substance as a controlled drug, placing it in the same category as heroin and LSD.
The compound has been referred to by some observers as "gas station heroin" due to its opioid similar properties. This designation highlights concerns regarding the potency of synthetic alternatives compared to natural kratom products.
Wired reports that this move may have implications for the broader kratom industry. According to Wired, the decision could provide a benefit to mainstream kratom producers by creating a clearer distinction between traditional botanical products and manufactured chemicals. The report suggests that by targeting 7-OH specifically, the DEA aims to regulate substances with high potency while leaving the status of natural kratom largely unchanged in current discussions.
Why this matters
This action targets a specific synthetic compound rather than natural kratom, which may influence how federal authorities regulate botanical products in the future. The move also highlights the regulatory distinction between naturally occurring plants and chemically modified substances.
What's confirmed / what isn't
Both The Hill and Wired report the DEA's intent to schedule 7-OH as a controlled substance similar to heroin and LSD. The specific nickname "gas station heroin" and the potential benefit to mainstream kratom producers are details provided specifically by Wired.
Background
Kratom is a tropical tree whose leaves are used for their stimulant and sedative effects. 7-OH is a synthetic derivative of these compounds that often possesses higher potency than natural kratom.