Kentucky to Ban Concentrated 7‑OH, a Kratom Derivative

State health officials plan to finalize rules that trigger immediate removal of 7‑OH products from retail shelves.

Overview

Gov. Andy Beshear announced the state will classify isolated and concentrated 7‑hydroxymitragynine as a Schedule I narcotic.
Once the regulation takes effect, it will be illegal to sell, possess, or distribute concentrated 7‑OH in Kentucky, and enforcement agencies can pull products statewide.
Officials highlight three straight years of declining overdose deaths and warn that high‑dose shots, powders, and capsules carry opioid‑like risks.
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary are urging the DEA to place 7‑OH on Schedule I nationally, though no federal action has been finalized.
Advocates argue a ban would criminalize users, hinder research, and push demand into unregulated markets, noting 7‑OH occurs naturally in kratom in small amounts and is currently sold without federal standards.