UConn Pharmacologist Leads Fight to Separate Synthetic 7-OH From Natural Leaf Kratom in Law

Why it matters

A leading pharmacologist is building a regulatory framework to distinguish natural kratom leaf from synthetic 7-OH products — an effort that could shape legislation in multiple states and spare millions of leaf users from blanket bans.

The big picture

The rise of 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) products in 2023 created a regulatory crisis: products labeled as kratom began causing opioid-level addictions and deaths, prompting state bans that made no distinction between the natural leaf and synthetic derivatives. Dr. C. Michael White at UConn has studied kratom since 2017 and now chairs the Kratom Consumer Advisory Council (KCAC), an independent body working to establish safety standards and guide evidence-based regulation.

Key findings

• The U.S. market for 7-OH is now larger than the domestic heroin market, according to Dr. White
• 7-OH products, introduced in 2023, triggered a wave of addictions and deaths misattributed to natural kratom
• Florida's attorney general issued an emergency declaration scheduling 7-OH as Schedule I in summer 2025
• KCAC position statements on distinguishing 7-OH from natural leaf have been incorporated into legislation in Nebraska, Colorado, and Utah
• White recommends: minimum purchase age of 21, no candy formulations, independent lab testing, no synthetic alkaloids
• Natural kratom leaf carries a much lower addiction risk than 7-OH; 63% of natural leaf users in studies call it life-saving

What they say

"While not risk-free, natural leaf kratom offers an accessible option, and many users report that it helps them regain control of their lives. We need a balanced, thoughtful regulatory environment to support people with opioid use disorder and chronic pain." — Dr. C. Michael White, UConn Professor of Pharmacy and KCAC Chair

Bottom line

A UConn pharmacologist is spearheading a regulatory push to schedule synthetic 7-OH as a Schedule I drug while preserving legal access to natural kratom leaf — and his advocacy is already shaping state laws.