Source: Colorado Politics
Excerpt:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Drug Enforcement Administration are considering classifying 7-OH, a compound derived from the kratom plant, as a Schedule 1 controlled substance — effectively making it illegal at the federal level.
Last month, the FDA announced it was targeting the compound, which is a concentrated byproduct of the kratom plant known to relieve pain and cause feelings of euphoria, due to its “high potential for abuse.”
“Vape stores are popping up in every neighborhood in America, and many are selling addictive products like concentrated 7-OH,” said FDA Commissioner Marty Makary. “After the last wave of the opioid epidemic, we cannot get caught flat-footed again. 7-OH is an opioid that can be more potent than morphine. We need regulation and public education to prevent another wave of the opioid epidemic.”
Schedule 1 drugs, which include marijuana, heroin, and LSD, are considered by the FDA not to have any “currently accepted medical use” and carry high risks for misuse.