FLORIDA — Attorney General James Uthmeier signed an emergency rule that places concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) and several related chemical products into Schedule I in Florida, effective immediately. The rule expands Schedule I to cover new 7-OH-related compounds and limits these chemicals to no more than 1 milligram per gram for solids or pills, and no more than 1 milligram per milliliter for liquids.

The rule additionally requires that any product containing any amount of 7-OH or its related compounds must also contain at least 100 times more regular mitragynine by mass. Uthmeier said the measure will remove these products from store shelves and hold manufacturers and sellers accountable. He added, "The concentrated products present an imminent hazard to the public safety of Floridians — especially our children and teens."

The chemicals covered by the rule include 7-hydroxymitragynine, mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, 7-acetoxymitragynine, 9-hydroxycorynantheidine, 10-hydroxycorynantheidine, and MGM-15. Placement in Schedule I allows for felony arrests, prosecutions, product seizures, and shutdowns of illegal manufacturers and sellers. Violations of the rule can carry criminal penalties, including up to 30 years in prison.

State Surgeon General Joseph A. Ladapo warned that concentrated 7-OH products act on opioid receptors and have been linked to addiction, overdose, and seizures. Medical leaders at Tampa General Hospital and Florida Poison Control issued similar warnings about these products. Health officials stated that exposure and overdoses involving 7-OH mitragynine have risen in recent years, affecting people of all ages.

Florida medical examiners have linked at least 587 overdose deaths to the chemicals since 2013, and poison control centers have reported hundreds of recent cases involving 7-OH. More than 25% of the reported poison control cases required intensive care. Officials noted that these chemicals occur naturally in kratom in trace amounts of about 0.01% to 0.04% but are being sold in concentrated forms under brand names such as Hydroxy, 7Tabz, 777 Jackpot Alkaloids, Roxy 7-OH, and 7OHMZ. Officials also stated that suppliers have used mislabeling tactics to evade detection.

Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson stated the state has removed more than 23,000 illegal 7-OH packages from retailers since an earlier emergency rule, and that inspectors continue routine checks and targeted sweeps. Hospital and poison-control physicians praised the state's actions and urged prevention and continued enforcement to keep the substances out of reach of children and families.