SPRINGFIELD, VIRGINIA — The Drug Enforcement Administration issued a notice of intent on Friday to temporarily place 7-hydroxymitragynine and mitragynine pseudoindoxyl in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act when present above a specified threshold. The agency is withdrawing its July 7, 2026 notice of intent related to 7-hydroxymitragynine.

The recommended threshold for scheduling is greater than 1 mg per gram for solid forms or greater than 1 mg per milliliter for liquid preparations. The temporary order will impose regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal sanctions on persons who handle these substances above the threshold.

Neither the Department of Health and Human Services nor the Drug Enforcement Administration has made a finding that these substances are safe to use at below-threshold levels. The Department of Health and Human Services sent a letter to the Drug Enforcement Administration on October 8, 2026, recommending the placement of 7-hydroxymitragynine and mitragynine pseudoindoxyl in Schedule I above a specified threshold.

What's New

The Justice Department published a rule titled "Schedules of Controlled Substances: Placement of O-Desmethyltramadol in Schedule I; Correction" on Oct. 9, 2026. The Justice Department also published a rule titled "Schedules of Controlled Substances; Removal of Exemption Status for Inactive Butalbital Products" on Oct. 9, 2026. Primary sources: federalregister.gov, federalregister.gov (2)