Department of Justice Announces Updates to Emergency Scheduling Actions for 7-OH and Related Opioid Substances
The U.S. Department of Justice announced emergency scheduling actions targeting 7-OH and related opioids, citing public health risks and drug trafficking concerns.
The Department of Justice announced updated emergency scheduling actions for 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) and three related opioids—mitragynine pseudoindoxyl (MGPI), MGM-15, and MGM-16—citing their dangerous and addictive nature. Attorney General Todd Blanche emphasized the need to protect communities and children from harmful substances, framing the move as part of broader efforts to hold traffickers accountable. The actions follow recommendations from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which provided revised thresholds to distinguish trace amounts of these substances from intentionally enhanced formulations. The DEA will issue new Notices of Intent based on HHS’s scientific analysis, which supports stricter controls when concentrations exceed specified limits.
The updated HHS analysis confirms that 7-OH occurs naturally in botanical kratom at low levels but recommends Schedule I control when concentrations or ratios exceed defined thresholds. HHS also noted emerging science suggesting MGPI may occur at trace levels in some kratom-derived products, supporting a threshold-based approach for both substances. The DEA temporarily placed MGPI, MGM-15, and MGM-16 into Schedule I on August 26, 2026, with these controls remaining in effect during the new 30-day Notice of Intent period. For 7-OH, no temporary scheduling order has been issued yet, and DEA will reissue a new Notice of Intent reflecting HHS’s updated recommendations.
The Department of Justice emphasized that the scheduling actions are designed to curb the availability of harmful opioids, including those marketed as kratom products, by targeting intentionally enhanced or concentrated formulations. The DEA’s temporary controls on MGPI, MGM-15, and MGM-16 will remain in place while the agency reviews HHS’s updated scientific recommendations for 7-OH and MGPI. The scheduling thresholds aim to differentiate between products with trace natural occurrences of these substances and those deliberately fortified for abuse. The DEA’s process includes public notice periods and scientific review before finalizing permanent scheduling decisions.
The announcement follows a broader federal effort to address synthetic and naturally derived opioids that pose public health risks. The Department of Justice highlighted the role of traffickers in distributing these substances, often under the guise of legal or herbal products. The updated controls are intended to disrupt supply chains and reduce access to these opioids, particularly in communities vulnerable to substance abuse. The DEA’s temporary scheduling orders provide immediate legal tools to restrict these substances while scientific and legal reviews continue.