DEA moves to ban four kratom-linked substances – but not kratom

Abstract

On October 14, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) proposed placing four substances linked to the plant kratom on Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. This is the schedule reserved for substances which have a high potential for abuse and have no medical use. Kratom leaf is explicitly not included, and in fact this is to protect whatever the not listed. Rather, the substances targeted must all exceed a certain threshold before falling into the banned schedule. These are 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) and mitragynine pseudoindoxyl (MGPI), MGM-15, and MGM-16. They all have opioid-like qualities. 7-OH is found in trace amounts in kratom. The other three substances are synthetically derived from the plant. The DEA Federal Register notice also warned of deceptive branding in which these products were called “kratom” and marketed as medical treatments, energy supplements, and so on. The federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) also participates in such rulemaking when it comes to the abuse potential of drugs. On October 9, HHS made it clear that the DEA recommendation was designed to distinguish the four substances from “natural botanical kratom products,” which may contain trace amounts of the banned substances – hence the threshold criterion. “We are drawing a clear line between natural kratom and dangerous, enhanced opioid products,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “We listened to the public, followed the science, and developed a clear recommended threshold for temporary scheduling that targets concentrated 7-OH and MGPI without sweeping natural botanical kratom into Schedule I. The Trump Administration will continue taking decisive action against dangerous products that fuel addiction while making sure our policies are grounded in rigorous science.” The National Institute on Drug Abuse is researching an active component of kratom, which explains the reticence to place kratom on Schedule I. For the DEA Federal Register notice, go to https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/10/14/2026-20943/schedules-of-controlled-substances-temporary-placement-of-7--hydroxymitragynine-and-mitragynine