Despite Zero Confirmed Deaths from 7-OH, Federal Officials Push Ban While Ignoring Science and Consumer Voices

This week, hired actors were spotted protesting 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) outside the CHAMPS Trade Show in Las Vegas in a desperate attempt by Big Kratom to manufacture support for their campaign to pit kratom and 7-OH customers against each other. This ridiculous incident reveals just how far industry insiders will go to manipulate public perception and protect their own profits, even if it means faking public outrage and dividing the very community they claim to serve.

In a recent letter to The Star (July 6, 18A), David Bregger spoke out against 7-OH, a natural compound in kratom used to manage pain. He suggested it might have played a role in his son’s death. What happened to the Bregger family is every parent’s worst nightmare. No parent should ever experience that loss.

Last month, the state Legislature passed two bills to regulate kratom and 7-OH, plant-derived substances that are already helping many New Yorkers manage chronic pain or recover from addiction. The bills set age requirements for purchase and ban misleading labels that put consumers at risk.

A combination of data from the FDA and two independent studies prompted a group of scientists to speak out on conversations surrounding 7-OH and its parent plant,
kratom. The science confirms the strong safety profile of 7-OH and slams the door closed on continued efforts by industry competitors to push 7-OH out of the marketplace with public smears, unfounded science, and government overreach.

7-OH comes from Kratom leaves. It’s an herbal substance, capable of producing sedative or stimulant effects. Kratom — in general — is increasingly used for treating chronic pain, according to researchers.

As someone who believes in evidence-based policy, I was encouraged to see the Missouri State Legislature take time this session to consider HB 1037 — a bill that would have created clear labeling and safety standards for kratom and kratom-derived products. It didn’t pass, but it pointed in the right direction. The next step is to get it over the finish line and make sure access to these products is preserved through smart, consistent regulation.

I found relief after twenty years. Let’s not make the next person wait two decades. Regulate kratom and 7-OH before we lose the option.

Legislation aimed at regulating kratom use in New York has passed both the state Senate and Assembly and is now awaiting the governor’s signature. The bills, co-sponsored by Assembly members Mary Beth Walsh and Phil Steck, were introduced following the death of Nick Scribner from kratom use.

Missouri lawmakers chose not to restrict access to kratom and its derivative, 7-hydroxymitragynine or 7-OH, during this year’s legislative session. That was the right call. But the current legal vacuum leaves consumers unprotected and responsible businesses without clear standards. As legislators begin shaping the 2026 agenda, the next step is clear: Adopt science-based regulation that protects public health and supports recovery.