TAMPA, Fla. – Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced emergency action at a news conference at Tampa General Hospital on Wednesday.
“We are taking emergency action now because we see immediate danger. Last week the FDA commissioner issued a warning about 7-OH, putting people on notice to the dangers, calling on states to observe and take action where necessary. So here in Florida, we are not going to rest on our laurels. We move fast. We want to help lead the way when it comes to public safety,” Uthmeier said.
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Uthmeier was joined by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Wilton Simpson, FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary, and State Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo, among others.
The chemical, known as7- hydroxymitragynine, is a component of kratom, a plant native to Southeast Asia that has gained popularity in the U.S. as an unapproved treatment for pain, anxiety and drug dependence.
Last month, U.S. health officials issued a warning about the risks of the opioid-related ingredient increasingly added to energy drinks, gummies and supplements sold at gas stations and convenience stores, recommending a nationwide ban.
By classifying isolated and concentrated 7-OH as Schedule I, Florida law now treats these products in the same category as heroin, LSD, and fentanyl analogs—substances with a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use. The emergency rule empowers law enforcement and regulatory agencies to begin immediate enforcement and removal of these products from retail locations statewide.
