Kratom Research Institute

Policy · 2026-06-22

Florida AG Expands Emergency Rule to Ban Seven 7-OH Compounds, Cites 95 Overdose Calls in First Four Months of 2026

Source: Florida Phoenix

Why it matters

Florida has moved further than any other state to crack down on concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), classifying seven related compounds as Schedule I substances — a move with direct implications for retailers, consumers, and public health officials nationwide. Poison control data showing 95 calls in the first four months of 2026 underscore the real-world harm driving the policy.

The big picture

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier first classified 7-OH as a Schedule I substance via emergency rule in 2025. The June 2026 update expands that designation to seven chemical analogs including mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, 7-acetoxymitragynine, and MGM-15/16 — compounds used in reformulated products designed to evade the earlier ban. The action follows reports from Tampa General Hospital of overdose cases ranging from a three-month-old infant to a 97-year-old adult, illustrating the breadth of consumer exposure.

Key findings

What they say

"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," said Dr. Cory Howard, associate medical director at the Florida Poison Control Information Center in Tampa.

Bottom line

Florida's expanded 7-OH emergency rule is the most sweeping state-level action yet against concentrated kratom derivatives, targeting seven compounds and backed by enforcement data showing tens of thousands of illegal packages already removed from shelves.