Florida designates highly concentrated kratom chemical as Schedule 1 drug

Florida lawmakers have classified highly concentrated 7-OH, a synthetic chemical found in kratom, as a Schedule 1 drug, citing its potency and links to nearly 600 overdose deaths in the state since 2013.

Kratom, a plant native to Southeast Asia, contains trace amounts of 7-OH in its natural form, but some places synthesize the chemical into highly concentrated doses, which the Food and Drug Administration says can be more potent than morphine.

Laura Rasmussen, owner of Kava Nirvana in Fort Myers, said her business only serves natural kratom products.

“This isn’t to get high, this is a holistic overall approach to wellness,” Rasmussen said.

She expressed support for the emergency ruling against highly concentrated 7-OH products.

“I was elated. I am very against going away from a natural product,” Rasmussen said.

Amy Dudley, an assistant professor at Florida Gulf Coast University and a family nurse practitioner, said the classification is significant.

“It’s actually being put in the same category as heroin and LSD in Florida,” Dudley said.

Dudley explained that highly concentrated 7-OH products act on opioid receptors and can lead to addiction.

“The products that are out there can have contaminants, they can be laced, the misdosing, they can even have bacteria,” Dudley said.

Fort Myers resident Will Souza emphasized the importance of being cautious about product sources.

“I do think it is good to be wary of where you are getting your product,” Souza said.

Dudley noted that kratom remains under-researched and is not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.

In Florida, kratom is legal in all counties except Sarasota County, and buyers must be 21 or older.