WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday the Drug Enforcement Administration issued a statement declaring its intent to classify 7-hydroxymitragynine (commonly referred to as “7-OH”) as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act.

An organic compound derived from the kratom plant, 7-OH is widely used by more than one million Americans for pain relief as well as for harm reduction purposes, such as treating symptoms of opioid withdrawal.

The DEA move uses emergency powers to avoid a full scientific review that is required by Congress.  In addition, the accompanying request for public comments from the Department of Health and Human Services explicitly rejects scientific and safety related input related to 7-OH.

“This is a bad-faith scheme that will turn everyday American consumers into lawbreakers, especially those who are struggling with addiction or moving away from opioids,” said HLF president Mario H. Lopez.  “Instead of focusing on rigorous science and a fair, transparent, and measured regulatory process, blindly putting 7-OH in the same legal category as Heroin will make the opioid crisis worse.”

The administration’s move comes shortly after an investigative report detailed how some cabinet members with financial interests in kratom companies who sell products that compete with 7-OH have used their official government positions to target market competitors in the 7-OH industry.