Federal regulators move to restrict concentrated kratom products
The DEA has proposed placing high-potency kratom derivatives into Schedule I control, targeting synthetic and concentrated versions of the 7-OH compound.
Priya Ravindran
Jul 3, 2026 · 1 min read
Regulators at the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration moved on Wednesday to classify several high-potency, kratom-related substances under the strictest tier of federal drug control. The proposal targets products containing 7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH, a compound that occurs naturally in the kratom plant but is being marketed in concentrated pills and powders at levels the agency warns are unsafe.
The proposed rule, supported by the FDA and the Department of Health and Human Services, establishes a concentration limit of 0.050% by dry weight. Products exceeding this threshold, or those containing more than 1 milligram of 7-OH, would be placed in Schedule I. This category is reserved for substances with a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use.
Beyond natural derivatives, the DEA is also seeking temporary control over three synthetic analogues: mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, dihydro-7-hydroxymitragynine, and MGM-16. The action differentiates between traditional, raw kratom leaf and the newer market for high-concentration extracts that regulators argue mimic the effects of traditional opioids. The formal proposal is expected to be published in the Federal Register on July 6.