Attorney General James Uthmeier signs emergency rule immediately classifying dangerous 7-OH and related compounds as Schedule I controlled substances in Florida

Tallahassee, Florida – Florida’s legal and public health agencies moved quickly this week as Attorney General James Uthmeier signed an emergency rule that immediately classifies highly concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) and several related chemical compounds as Schedule I controlled substances. The decision takes effect right away, marking a sharp escalation in the state’s response to what officials describe as a growing public safety threat.

The action targets a group of substances often sold in gas stations, vape shops, and online markets under various brand names. These products, while sometimes derived from compounds found in kratom, are in their concentrated forms far more powerful and, according to state leaders, significantly more dangerous than naturally occurring versions.

Uthmeier said the emergency measure was necessary because of the immediate risk posed to Floridians, particularly younger populations who may be exposed to the products through retail outlets or misleading marketing.

“Today 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 James 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.”

The emergency rule places strict limits on a range of substances, including 7-hydroxymitragynine itself and several chemically related compounds such as mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, 7-acetoxymitragynine, 9-hydroxycorynantheidine, 10-hydroxycorynantheidine, MGM-15, and MGM-16. All are now treated as Schedule I substances under Florida law, allowing for felony enforcement actions, seizures, and criminal prosecution.

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State officials say the move is part of a broader effort that has been developing for more than a year, as regulators and health agencies tracked a rise in exposure cases and suspected overdoses involving these products. While 7-OH occurs naturally in small amounts in kratom leaves, typically between 0.01% and 0.04%, the concentrated forms sold commercially are significantly more potent and chemically altered.

These products have been sold under brand names such as Hydroxy, 7Tabz, 777 Jackpot Alkaloids, Roxy 7-OH, and 7OHMZ, often packaged in appealing flavors and marketed in ways officials say can mislead consumers about their strength and risk profile.

The new rule also introduces strict formulation requirements aimed at preventing the sale of highly concentrated versions. Under the regulation, no product may contain more than 1 milligram of the listed compounds per gram in solid or pill form, or per milliliter in liquid form. Additionally, any product containing 7-OH or related compounds must include at least 100 times more regular mitragynine by mass, a requirement intended to block chemically enhanced formulations that increase potency.

Officials say enforcement will now include full Schedule I penalties, meaning violations can lead to felony arrests, prosecution, product seizures, and the shutdown of illegal manufacturers and distributors. In some cases, penalties could reach up to 30 years in prison.

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson said the state has already taken significant steps in earlier enforcement actions, including large-scale retail inspections and product removals.

“Last year, Florida took decisive action to help defend Floridians from dangerous, highly addictive 7-OH products,” said Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson. “Working with Attorney General James Uthmeier and our law enforcement partners, we have put in place some of the strongest protections in the nation to keep these products off store shelves. Since our emergency rule took effect, FDACS has removed over 23,000 illegal 7-OH packages from retailers across Florida, and our inspectors continue to conduct routine checks and targeted sweeps across our state. We will use every tool available to protect consumers, safeguard our communities, and keep these addictive substances out of the hands of kids and families.”

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Lawmakers also emphasized that the policy decision is rooted in public safety rather than political or commercial concerns.

“By today’s actions, we make it clear that public safety comes first,” said Florida State Representative Dean Black. “Special interests do not matter in this discussion. People’s lives are the only special interest we should care about. That sacred responsibility motivates us today and will guide us forward in the future.”

Health officials and medical professionals across Florida have raised concerns for years about the growing presence of 7-OH-related products and their impact on emergency departments. State Surgeon General Dr. Joseph A. Ladapo warned that the substances act directly on opioid receptors in the brain and can lead to severe health outcomes.

“7-OH poses a serious threat to public health,” said State Surgeon General Dr. Joseph A. Ladapo. “These highly concentrated products act on opioid receptors and have been linked to addiction, overdose, and seizures. 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.”

Hospitals have also reported an increase in emergency cases linked to these compounds. At Tampa General Hospital, clinicians describe a pattern of patients arriving after accidental overdoses, often unaware of the strength or addictive potential of the substances they had consumed.

“At Tampa General Hospital, we see firsthand the devastating consequences of dangerous substances like 7-OH,” said Melissa Golombek, Executive Vice President of the Florida Health Sciences Center and President of Tampa General Hospital. “Too often, patients who have purchased these products at a nearby convenience store, unaware of how addictive and lethal they can be, arrive in our emergency department after an overdose. With the leadership of Attorney General Uthmeier, Commissioner Simpson and Surgeon General Ladapo, Florida is leading the nation to crack down on dangerous drugs and remove these products from our communities.”

Emergency medicine specialists say the trend is not limited to a single demographic. Cases have reportedly involved individuals across all age groups, from children to elderly patients, underscoring what physicians describe as widespread exposure and aggressive marketing practices.

“Exposure and overdose involving 7-OH mitragynine has been on the rise in recent years,” said Dr. Cory Howard, Emergency Medicine Physician, Tampa General Hospital/USF Department of Emergency Medicine, Board-Certified Medical Toxicologist, and Associate Medical Director, Florida Poison Control Tampa. “We are seeing this affect Floridians of all ages, from infants to the elderly, which speaks directly to how aggressively and irresponsibly this drug is marketed. Thanks to the decisive action of General Uthmeier, Commissioner Simpson and Surgeon General Ladapo, Florida is removing these products from shelves.”

Another medical expert emphasized the addiction risks and withdrawal symptoms associated with the substances, describing them as opioid-like in behavior and highly dependent-forming.

“I have personally witnessed the harm caused by 7-OH mitragynine, a dangerous opioid-like substance that causes severe dependence and withdrawal, requiring intense support to foster recovery,” said Dr. Thomas Nappe, emergency physician, medical toxicologist with the Florida Poison Information Center – Tampa, Addiction Medicine Specialist, Medical Director of Inpatient Addiction Medicine at USF/TGH, and Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at USF Morsani College of Medicine. “Prevention is key. With this Emergency Rule, General Uthmeier, Commissioner Simpson and Surgeon General Ladapo are working to keep lethal drugs out of reach in Florida.”

According to state data, Florida medical examiners have linked at least 587 overdose deaths to these compounds since 2013, while poison control centers have reported hundreds of recent exposure cases, with more than a quarter requiring intensive care treatment.

Officials say the emergency rule is designed not only to remove the products from shelves but also to prevent further distribution through stronger enforcement mechanisms. Multiple states have already taken similar steps, and federal authorities have previously warned about the emergence of potent synthetic opioid-like substances in this category, recommending DEA scheduling.

As enforcement begins immediately, Florida officials say they expect rapid removal of products from retail locations and continued inspections across the state. The message from state leadership is clear: the availability of these compounds will no longer be tolerated, and violations will carry serious consequences under the law.