Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier signs emergency rule on 7-OH products

Florida's Attorney General James Uthmeier announced on Monday that he signed an emergency rule to control highly-concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) and related chemical products being sold across the state.“Today I signed an emergency rule because these dangerous concentrated 7-OH products present an imminent hazard to the public safety of Floridians—especially our children and teens,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “By expanding the rule to include new 7-OH related compounds to Schedule I, we are removing these addictive poisons from store shelves, protecting families, and holding manufacturers and sellers accountable.”7-OH, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is a naturally occurring substance found in the Kratom plant. It acts on opioid receptors and had been linked to addiction, overdose and seizures.Key provisions in the newly-signed rule include the following:No product may contain more than 1 milligram of the chemicals per gram (solids/pills) or per milliliter (liquids)Any product containing any amount of 7-OH or its related compounds must also contain at least 100 times more regular mitragynine by massFull Schedule I placement, enabling felony-level arrests, prosecutions, product seizures and shutdowns of illegal manufacturers and sellers“At Tampa General Hospital, we see firsthand the devastating consequences of dangerous substances like 7-OH," said Melissa Golombek, Executive Vice President of the Florida Health Sciences Center and President of Tampa General Hospital. "Too often, patients who have purchased these products at a nearby convenience store, unaware of how addictive and lethal they can be, arrive in our emergency department after an overdose. With the leadership of Attorney General Uthmeier, Commissioner Simpson and Surgeon General Ladapo, Florida is leading the nation to crack down on dangerous drugs and remove these products from our communities.”7-OH products are often sold in gas stations, vape shops, and online. Florida medical examiners say they've linked at least 587 overdose deaths to them since 2013. They say there have also been hundreds of new Poison Control cases, with 25% of them requiring ICU care.Uthmeier said violations carry serious criminal penalties, including up to 30 years in prison.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.