On July 1, 2026, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) sent two Notices of Intent (NOI) to the Federal Register announcing plans to temporarily place 7-Hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) and related synthetic compounds into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act.

The ban takes affect on or after August 5th, 2026 which means that the manufacture, distribution, sale, and possession of covered 7-OH products will be federally prohibited and subject to criminal, civil, and administrative penalties.

The DEA's emergency scheduling targets two categories:

 1. 7-Hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) above a specified threshold — High-concentration 7-OH products (the exact threshold will be detailed in the Federal Register notice)

2. Synthetic 7-OH-related substances — Mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, MGM-15, and MGM-16 

This action does not regulate the kratom plant itself or traditional kratom leaf products. The DEA is specifically targeting highly concentrated, synthetic, and enhanced 7-OH products — the kind commonly found in potent extracts, tablets, and shots. Ergo, natural kratom leaf is NOT affected, at this time.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) confirmed that:

• Synthetic 7-OH and the three related substances have no accepted medical use

• These substances have a high potential for abuse

The DEA cited serious public health concerns, including hospitalizations and deaths linked to high-concentration 7-OH products, and determined that an imminent hazard to public safety required emergency scheduling authority.

Once the ban takes effect:

• Covered 7-OH products will be illegal to manufacture, distribute, sell, or possess

• Violations will be subject to criminal, civil, and administrative penalties under the Controlled Substances Act

• Existing inventory cannot be restocked

This is a temporary Schedule I placement, but there is no guarantee that 7-OH will return to legal status — the DEA may move to permanent scheduling based on ongoing review.

The DEA's temporary scheduling process:

1. ✅ Notices of Intent filed — July 1, 2026

2. ⏳ Federal Register publication — Expected within days

3. ⏳ Effective date — usually ~30 days after the Notices of Intent were filed

If you use 7-OH products and want to ensure access before the ban takes effect:

• Stock up now while inventory is still available — this window is closing fast

• Verify product type — most commercial 7-OH extracts, tablets, and shots will fall under the ban

• Plan ahead — once the ban is in effect, there is no legal way to purchase these products

This is your last opportunity to purchase concentrated 7-Hydroxymitragynine products legally. We encourage all customers to make informed decisions and secure their supply while it's still available.

Reach out to the legislators shaping this policy.

Federal Level:

• Your U.S. Representative — Find yours at house.gov

• Your U.S. Senators — Find yours at senate.gov

• Express concerns about H.R.8000 (the "END 7-OH Act") and the DEA's emergency scheduling authority

Organizations Advocating for Responsible Policy:

• HART Supporter — hartsupporter.com — Advocating for harm reduction and informed policy

• 7 Hope Alliance — 7hopealliance.org — Leading advocacy group working on consumer protection and responsible regulation

Your voice matters. Contact your representatives, share your perspective, and support efforts to create responsible regulation instead of outright prohibition.