DEA moves to ban opioid-like kratom compound 7-OH

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is planning to temporarily ban products containing certain synthetic versions of kratom, placing them in the same category as heroin and LSD. 

The agency on Wednesday said it plans to classify a psychoactive compound called 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) and three related substances as Schedule I, meaning they have no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. 

The ban would apply to all products with .05 percent of 7-OH dry weight, or those with more than 1 milligram of ⁠7-OH. It would be applicable for two years, with the potential to extend it for a third.  

DEA also temporarily scheduled three 7-OH-related substances — MP, MGM-15, and MGM-16 — that are found online in products including candies, tablets and liquid shots. DEA said they are often marketed as kratom extracts despite containing synthetic opioid compounds. 

MP, MGM-15 and MGM-16 do not occur naturally. MP is a chemical rearrangement product of 7-OH, while MGM-15 and MGM-16 are synthetic derivatives of 7-OH. 

The DEA said 7-OH “presents severe risks to public health, including tolerance, dependence and addiction.”  

The action was applauded by public health and addiction advocacy groups. 

“This is an important and long-overdue........

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