Rick Patrick
rick@greenepublishing.com
In a press release from the Office of Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, it was announce that an emergency rule was signed to “control highly concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH),” and several related chemical products being sold across Florida.” The rule classified these products as “controlled substances” and strictly regulates the amounts and concentration levels these products may legally contain. The action took effect immediately.
“I signed an emergency rule because these dangerous concentrated 7-OH products present an imminent hazard to the public safety of Floridians - especially our children and teens,” said Attorney General Uthmeier. “By expanding the rule to include new 7-OH related compounds to Schedule I, we are removing these addictive poisons from store shelves, protecting families and holding manufacturers and sellers accountable.”
“These highly concentrated products act on opioid receptors and have been linked to addiction, overdose and seizures,” said Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo. “I appreciate Attorney General Uthmeier’s leadership in keeping these products off of Florida’s shelves and helping ensure Floridians have the information they need to protect themselves and their families.”
7-OH is a naturally occurring chemical that appears in trace amounts in the Mitragyna speciosa plant, which is a tropical evergreen tree native to Southeast Asia. It is found in what is commonly referred to as “kratom” in small amounts (0.01 to 0.04 percent). The concentrated versions, which are the subject of the crackdown, sold in gas stations, vape shops and online under the brands such as Hydroxy, 7Tabz and 7OHMZ can be far more hazardous. Florida medical examiners have attributed close to 600 overdose deaths to these substances since 2013, with hundreds more recent Poison Control cases, many of which required ICU care.
Key provisions of the Florida Attorney General’s ruling include:
• A strict limit - “no product may contain more than one milligram of these dangerous chemicals per gram (solids/pills) or per milliliter (liquids).”
• “Any product containing any amount of 7-OH or its related compounds must contain at least 100 times more regular mitragynine by mass, preventing super-concentrated and chemically altered formulas.
• “Full Schedule I placement, enabling felony-level arrests, prosecutions, product seizures and shutdowns of illegal manufacturers and sellers.”
The Federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) also filed its intent to “temporarily place 7-OH and three related substances into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act,” according to a press release from the DEA. The DEA press release also states that, “once the temporary scheduling orders take effect, the manufacture, distribution, sale and possession of covered 7-OH substances will become subject to criminal, civil and administrative provision of the Controlled Substances Act.”
“I commend the DEA for taking decisive action to address these addictive and harmful substances,” said Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “&-OH, MP, MGM-15 and MGM-16 are dangerous opioids that fuel addiction and put American Lives at risk. HHS reviewed the science and recommended this action. The Trump Administration will continue using every available authority to stop these deceptive products, hold bad actors accountable and protect American families.”
Violations of the Florida Attorney General’s ruling can carry penalties of up to 30 years in prison.