Florida Classifies Concentrated 7-OH as Schedule 1 Drug, Citing 600 Overdose Deaths Since 2013

Why it matters

Florida's emergency reclassification places concentrated 7-OH in the same legal category as heroin and LSD under state law. With nearly 600 linked overdose deaths documented in Florida since 2013, the action gives law enforcement new tools to pursue retailers selling high-concentration synthetic kratom products.

The big picture

Florida had previously regulated kratom under its Kratom Consumer Protection Act, but escalating overdose deaths tied to synthetic 7-OH products prompted the state to reclassify the concentrated form as a Schedule 1 controlled substance. The action mirrors the DEA's pending federal scheduling and reflects a national pattern of states treating concentrated 7-OH differently from natural botanical kratom.

Key findings

• Florida designated highly concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) as a Schedule 1 controlled substance
• State officials cited nearly 600 overdose deaths linked to kratom in Florida since 2013
• The FDA states that concentrated 7-OH can be more potent than morphine
• Natural leaf kratom products remain legal in Florida, except in Sarasota County
• Buyers of kratom products in Florida must be 21 or older
• Experts note concentrated 7-OH can lead to addiction and can carry contaminants including bacteria

What they say

"It's actually being put in the same category as heroin and LSD in Florida," said Amy Dudley, assistant professor at Florida Gulf Coast University and family nurse practitioner, who noted that highly concentrated 7-OH products act on opioid receptors and can lead to addiction.

Bottom line

Florida has placed concentrated synthetic 7-OH in its highest drug scheduling tier, equating it legally with heroin and LSD, while maintaining legal access to natural kratom products sold within regulatory limits.