Florida Escalates Kratom Regulation: Highly Concentrated 7-OH and Related Compounds Designated Schedule 1

Tallahassee, FL – June 26, 2026 – Florida has taken a significant step in regulating the kratom market, with Attorney General James Uthmeier signing an emergency rule to classify highly concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) and several related chemical compounds as Schedule 1 controlled substances. This move, announced earlier this week, broadens existing restrictions and carries severe implications for manufacturers, merchants, and consumers of kratom products in the state.

What Happened

The emergency rule specifically targets 7-hydroxymitragynine, mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, 7-acetoxymitragynine, 9-hydroxycorynantheidine, 10-hydroxycorynantheidine, MGM-15, and MGM-16. While 7-OH occurs naturally in trace amounts (typically 0.01–0.04%) within the kratom plant, the new regulation focuses on concentrated and semi-synthetic versions that are often significantly elevated through chemical processes.

Under the expanded rule, no product sold in Florida may contain more than 1 milligram of these scheduled chemicals per gram in solids or pills, or per milliliter in liquids. Furthermore, any product containing 7-OH or its related compounds must also contain at least 100 times more regular mitragynine by mass. This stringent ratio is designed to effectively eliminate super-concentrated or chemically altered formulas from the market, which officials have linked to at least 587 overdose deaths in Florida since 2013.

This action expands upon a previous emergency rule from last year that limited 7-OH concentrate to over 0.04%, with officials noting that new products had emerged to circumvent the earlier restriction.

Why It Matters to Kratom Merchants and Consumers

For kratom merchants operating in Florida, this is an immediate and critical development. Any product containing the newly scheduled compounds above the stipulated limits or failing the mitragynine ratio must be removed from shelves without delay. Failure to comply can result in felony-level arrests, prosecutions, product seizures, and the shutdown of businesses, with potential penalties including up to 30 years in prison. This directly impacts products such as concentrated extracts, shots, gummies, and certain powders often marketed for their high potency.

Consumers in Florida will find access to highly concentrated 7-OH products severely restricted or eliminated. The intent behind this regulation is to safeguard public health by removing substances deemed dangerous, highly addictive, and potentially lethal, particularly those marketed with appealing packaging to younger demographics.

Compliance Implications for High-Risk Merchants

The immediate compliance implications are profound. This emergency rule is effective immediately, making prompt action essential for all businesses involved in the kratom supply chain in Florida.

High-risk merchants, those dealing in kratom products, must prioritize the following:

Certificates of Analysis (COAs): Robust and up-to-date COAs from accredited third-party laboratories are no longer merely a best practice but a legal necessity. These COAs must explicitly test for 7-hydroxymitragynine and all other newly scheduled compounds (mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, 7-acetoxymitragynine, 9-hydroxycorynantheidine, 10-hydroxycorynantheidine, MGM-15, and MGM-16).
Rigorous Lab Testing: Merchants must ensure their products are regularly and thoroughly tested to confirm they meet Florida's new standards: less than 1 mg of the scheduled compounds per gram/milliliter, and a mitragynine content that is at least 100 times greater than the total of these scheduled compounds.
Product Review and Removal: Immediately audit all inventory. Any product that does not meet the new concentration limits or the mitragynine-to-7-OH ratio must be pulled from sale in Florida.
Supplier Vetting: Establish and maintain stringent vetting processes for all suppliers to guarantee they can consistently provide products that comply with these updated regulations.
Accurate Labeling: Transparency and accuracy in product labeling are paramount. Mislabeling has been identified as a tactic used to evade detection, which will now carry severe penalties.
Legal Counsel: Given the complexity and severity of these regulations, consulting with legal professionals specializing in kratom and controlled substance laws is highly advisable to navigate compliance effectively and mitigate legal risks.

This aggressive regulatory stance in Florida underscores a growing trend of states scrutinizing highly concentrated kratom derivatives. Merchants must proactively adapt their operations to ensure strict adherence to these new laws to avoid significant legal and financial repercussions.