Two Months After Trump Praised 'Natural 7-OH,' His DEA Filed to Ban It as Schedule I

Why it matters

The apparent contradiction between Trump's May 2026 statements supporting natural 7-OH approval and his administration's DEA move to ban the substance as Schedule I is a significant policy story with real consequences for vendors, consumers, and the ongoing 30-day public comment process.

The big picture

Trump's May 2026 Oval Office comments about approving 'natural 7-OH' came amid intense lobbying from kratom industry allies and supporters. Just two months later, DEA — under the same administration — filed notices to classify 7-OH above a specified threshold alongside heroin and LSD. The public comment period through July 31 may reflect whether these competing forces within the administration can be reconciled.

Key findings

• On May 11, 2026, President Trump told reporters in the Oval Office: 'We're looking very seriously at natural 7-OH and getting that approved'
• Less than two months later, DEA filed Notices of Intent to place 7-OH above a specified threshold in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act
• DEA cited 165 poison control exposure cases involving 7-OH from January through July 2025, with 35% resulting in serious health problems
• Nine states have already banned 7-OH outright; four additional states cap its concentration
• FDA issued warning letters to seven 7-OH companies in July 2025, followed by a $1 million product seizure from three Missouri firms in December 2025
• A 30-day public comment period (open through July 31, 2026) allows input on the specified threshold — not on the scheduling decision itself

What they say

"7-OH, MP, MGM-15, and MGM-16 are dangerous opioids that fuel addiction and put American lives at risk," said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in a July 1, 2026 statement endorsing the DEA scheduling action.

Bottom line

Just two months after Trump publicly praised natural 7-OH, his own DEA filed to ban it as Schedule I — a contradiction that raises questions about administration consistency on kratom policy as the 30-day public comment window closes July 31.