US DEA seeks tighter controls on concentrated kratom-linked compounds

what happened

According to Newsmetry API, the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has proposed emergency limits for selected products containing synthetic compounds with opioid-like properties that are derived from kratom. Products crossing specified concentration thresholds could be placed in the most restrictive federal control category.

The agency issued two notices of intent on Friday, following recommendations from the US Department of Health and Human Services. The proposal is designed to separate products with only trace levels of the substances from formulations that have been deliberately strengthened or concentrated.

The action covers four kratom-linked substances: 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), which occurs in trace amounts in the plant, plus mitragynine pseudoindoxyl (MGPI), MGM-15 and MGM-16, which are derived from or chemically altered versions of the plant’s compounds. The DEA proposed temporary Schedule I status for products in which 7-OH or MGPI exceeds a specified concentration, or where the mitragynine-to-7-OH/MGPI ratio falls below a set level. In August, the agency cited an immediate public-safety threat when temporarily placing MGPI, MGM-15 and MGM-16 in the strictest federal category. The DEA has not issued a temporary scheduling order for 7-OH and said it would publish a revised notice reflecting HHS’s updated recommendation.

why it matters

The proposal could increase compliance and regulatory uncertainty for producers and sellers of products containing concentrated kratom-related compounds. The final classification will determine which formulations face the strongest federal restrictions in the United States.