Latest news with #AmericanKratomAssociation
Associated Press
an hour ago
- Health
- Associated Press
American Kratom Association Praises Secretary Kennedy and Commissioner Makary for Bold Action to Recommend Scheduling of Dangerous 7-OH Products
Commissioner Makary: 'We are not targeting the kratom leaf' American Kratom Association (AKA) today applauded Secretary Robert Kennedy and FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary for their decisive and science-driven recommendation to classify 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) as a Schedule I substance under the federal Controlled Substances Act. This bold step is a critical milestone in protecting public health and consumer safety from dangerous synthetic products that masquerade as natural kratom. 'Secretary Kennedy and Commissioner Makary have shown exceptional leadership in confronting one of the most urgent public health threats related to mislabeled, manipulated psychoactive substances,' said Mac Haddow, senior fellow on public policy for the American Kratom Association. 'These 7-OH products are not kratom. They are chemically altered substances that carry potent opioid-like effects and pose an imminent threat to consumers. This move sends a clear and long-overdue message: the safety of the American public comes first.' 7-hydroxymitragynine is a metabolite — not a naturally occurring substance in the kratom plant — and occurs during the drying of kratom leaves at extremely low levels, typically less than 0.01%. However, unscrupulous manufacturers have exploited chemical manipulation to create concentrated 7-OH products that far exceed natural levels, creating high-potency, opioid-like effects that are addictive and potentially lethal. These products are often falsely marketed under the kratom name, misleading consumers and damaging the reputation of natural kratom, which has a vastly different safety profile. The American Kratom Association has worked tirelessly to educate policymakers, regulators, and the public on the difference between natural kratom products and chemically manipulated 7-OH formulations. The AKA has advocated for state-based Kratom Consumer Protection Acts (KCPA) to ban the sale of adulterated and dangerously enhanced products. This federal scheduling recommendation is a landmark development that supports those efforts and establishes a much-needed national framework to protect consumers. 'The FDA's own research shows that natural kratom has a relatively low potential for abuse and may offer harm-reduction benefits when used responsibly,' Haddow continued. 'It is the synthetic manipulation of 7-OH that has created the danger. The action by Secretary Kennedy and Commissioner Makary is not only scientifically justified, it is morally imperative.' The AKA urges swift action by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to initiate the rule-making process to schedule synthetically manipulated 7-hydroxymitragynine and to make clear that such action does not impact the legal status of natural kratom or its primary alkaloids, mitragynine and unaltered 7-OH occurring within the plant matrix. The goal is to eliminate the threat posed by rogue products while preserving access to safe, regulated kratom. 'We look forward to working with federal agencies and state policymakers to ensure that safe access to natural kratom is protected, while these dangerous imposters are removed from the marketplace,' said Haddow. Note: The FDA also released " Hiding in Plain Sight: 7-OH Products " to help educate the public. About American Kratom Association (AKA) American Kratom Association (AKA) is a consumer-based, nonprofit organization, focused on furthering the latest science as guidance for kratom public policy. AKA works to give a voice to millions of Americans by fighting to protect their rights to access safe and natural kratom. For more information, visit and learn more at Media Contact Mac Haddow [email protected] ### SOURCE: American Kratom Association (AKA) Copyright 2025 EZ Newswire
Axios
19 hours ago
- Health
- Axios
Kratom 7-OH: What to know about the supplement dubbed "legal morphine"
The FDA is cracking down on a potent compound found in kratom supplements: 7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH. Why it matters: Products with 7-OH — which acts like an opioid and has been dubbed " legal morphine" by researchers — have surged in popularity. The latest: On Tuesday, the FDA recommended more regulation of 7-OH products, and warned consumers about their risks. Last month, the FDA sent a letter to companies about the illegal marketing of 7-OH products, calling them potentially dangerous and unproven. By the numbers: Federal survey data from 2021 suggests around 0.7% of Americans 12 and older use kratom products, but recent estimates from the American Kratom Association and Journal of Psychoactive Drugs put usage at 9.1% — or over 20 million people. Catch up quick: Kratom extracts were introduced to the market in September 2023 — five years after the DEA announced an intention to ban kratom. In the years since, "it was like an unofficial war between these manufacturers to see who could get the most potent extract product out there," says Chris McCurdy, a professor of medicinal chemistry at the University of Florida who's studied kratom for over 20 years. What is kratom "Kratom" can refer to the plant or powdered leaf — or kratom-derived concentrates in forms like tablets, gummies, drink mixes and shots that are available in some smoke shops and gas stations. The supplement is typically pronounced "kray-tom" in the U.S., but the plant found in Southeast Asia is called "kruh-TOM," McCurdy says. It's been marketed as a mood booster, pain reliever and remedy for symptoms of quitting opioids, but that doesn't mean all kratom products are " natural and safe," according to the Mayo Clinic. Is kratom dangerous? Kratom leaf products are like "a light beer" in terms of potency, McCurdy says. But once you extract and concentrate compounds like OH-7 — removing the natural plant material — he says you're closer to Everclear, the grain spirit that can be 95% alcohol by volume. The kratom plant has OH-7 only in trace amounts, but potency in herbal supplements varies widely. OH-7 "is a pure opioid," McCurdy says. That means it interacts with opioid receptors just like prescription opioids would, so researchers warn it could be highly addictive. "It's more potent than morphine in treating pain in animals," McCurdy says. "The fact that it's available without a prescription is really problematic." Another potential danger: Residual oxidants and other contaminants could remain in concentrated kratom products made in unregulated labs. The big picture: As of March, 24 states regulate kratom or its components in some manner, per the Legislative Analysis and Public Policy Association.
Reuters
19 hours ago
- Health
- Reuters
American Kratom Association Praises Secretary Kennedy and Commissioner Makary for Bold Action to Recommend Scheduling of Dangerous 7-OH Products
WASHINGTON, DC, July 29, 2025 (EZ Newswire) -- American Kratom Association (AKA), opens new tab today applauded Secretary Robert Kennedy and FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary for their decisive and science-driven recommendation to classify 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) as a Schedule I substance under the federal Controlled Substances Act. This bold step is a critical milestone in protecting public health and consumer safety from dangerous synthetic products that masquerade as natural kratom. 'Secretary Kennedy and Commissioner Makary have shown exceptional leadership in confronting one of the most urgent public health threats related to mislabeled, manipulated psychoactive substances,' said Mac Haddow, senior fellow on public policy for the American Kratom Association. 'These 7-OH products are not kratom. They are chemically altered substances that carry potent opioid-like effects and pose an imminent threat to consumers. This move sends a clear and long-overdue message: the safety of the American public comes first.' 7-hydroxymitragynine is a metabolite — not a naturally occurring substance in the kratom plant — and occurs during the drying of kratom leaves at extremely low levels, typically less than 0.01%. However, unscrupulous manufacturers have exploited chemical manipulation to create concentrated 7-OH products that far exceed natural levels, creating high-potency, opioid-like effects that are addictive and potentially lethal. These products are often falsely marketed under the kratom name, misleading consumers and damaging the reputation of natural kratom, which has a vastly different safety profile. The American Kratom Association has worked tirelessly to educate policymakers, regulators, and the public on the difference between natural kratom products and chemically manipulated 7-OH formulations. The AKA has advocated for state-based Kratom Consumer Protection Acts (KCPA) to ban the sale of adulterated and dangerously enhanced products. This federal scheduling recommendation is a landmark development that supports those efforts and establishes a much-needed national framework to protect consumers. 'The FDA's own research shows that natural kratom has a relatively low potential for abuse and may offer harm-reduction benefits when used responsibly,' Haddow continued. 'It is the synthetic manipulation of 7-OH that has created the danger. The action by Secretary Kennedy and Commissioner Makary is not only scientifically justified, it is morally imperative.' The AKA urges swift action by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to initiate the rule-making process to schedule synthetically manipulated 7-hydroxymitragynine and to make clear that such action does not impact the legal status of natural kratom or its primary alkaloids, mitragynine and unaltered 7-OH occurring within the plant matrix. The goal is to eliminate the threat posed by rogue products while preserving access to safe, regulated kratom. 'We look forward to working with federal agencies and state policymakers to ensure that safe access to natural kratom is protected, while these dangerous imposters are removed from the marketplace,' said Haddow. Note: The FDA also released "Hiding in Plain Sight: 7-OH Products, opens new tab" to help educate the public. About American Kratom Association (AKA) American Kratom Association (AKA) is a consumer-based, nonprofit organization, focused on furthering the latest science as guidance for kratom public policy. AKA works to give a voice to millions of Americans by fighting to protect their rights to access safe and natural kratom. For more information, visit and learn more at Media Contact Mac Haddowpress@ ### SOURCE: American Kratom Association (AKA) Copyright 2025 EZ Newswire See release on EZ Newswire
Reuters
5 days ago
- Reuters
Big Kratom Caught Paying Fake Protesters to Smear 7-OH Outside Las Vegas Trade Show
LAS VEGAS, NV, July 25, 2025 (EZ Newswire) -- This week, hired actors were spotted protesting 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) outside the CHAMPS Trade Show in Las Vegas in a desperate attempt by Big Kratom to manufacture support for their campaign to pit kratom and 7-OH customers against each other. This ridiculous incident reveals just how far industry insiders will go to manipulate public perception and protect their own profits, even if it means faking public outrage and dividing the very community they claim to serve. A now-deleted Craigslist ad (see attached image) offered $100–$150 per day to 'peaceful protesters' for a one-day gig on July 23, calling for 75–100 'reliable individuals' to stage a 'high-visibility protest action.' The actors had matching t-shirts, but, according to people who engaged them, opens new tab, they did not have the slightest idea of what they were protesting. The paid actors had signs, opens new tab featuring a QR code (see also attached image) leading to a petition, opens new tab organized by John Ramsay, who works for MIT45, opens new tab: which is a founding member, opens new tab of the American Kratom Association (AKA) and a part of the Global Kratom Coalition (GKC), opens new tab. Both AKA and GKC are Big Kratom lobbying groups that have been attacking 7-OH in the media and with legislators across the country. Jeff Smith, national policy director of the Holistic Alternative Recovery Trust (HART), had the following statement: 'Buying protestors proves it: the war on 7-OH is a completely manufactured controversy. When you have to stage a protest, you don't have a real movement. Donors to the American Kratom Association and Global Kratom Coalition should be mortified that this is the kind of action that their donations are being spent on. 'Kratom in general, not just 7-OH, is facing an existential threat in state legislatures. Consumers lost kratom access in two more states this year, mostly because of a botched kratom industry strategy attacking 7-OH instead of promoting the positive about their own products. The evidence is clear: when the industry tries to divide customers into kratom and 7-OH blocks, we all lose. This industry has to accept that we succeed or fail together. I'd rather succeed. 'Big Kratom seems to think they can save their members' bottom line by burning the whole industry down, no matter how much their misguided strategy backfires. At HART, we fight for the rights of kratom and 7-OH users alike because we think people are more important than a silly industry turf war. 'HART is in Las Vegas this weekend at CHAMPS to call on the kratom industry to stop the infighting and join the push for evidence-based and reasonable regulations that protect access for everyone who relies on kratom and 7-OH, before it's too late.' About Holistic Alternative Recovery Trust (HART) Holistic Alternative Recovery Trust (HART) is a national nonprofit organization advocating for science-based policy, regulatory transparency, and access to safe, plant-based alternatives to opioids and other pharmaceuticals. 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), a metabolite of mitragynine, the most abundant alkaloid found in kratom, is a new tool being used to combat opioid misuse and improve public health. HART strongly supports robust regulation to mandate that all 7-OH products are manufactured safely, are marketed transparently, and are kept out of the hands of children. Learn more at opens new tab. Media Contact HART Mediamedia@ ### SOURCE: Holistic Alternative Recovery Trust (HART) Copyright 2025 EZ Newswire See release on EZ Newswire
Associated Press
7 days ago
- Health
- Associated Press
American Kratom Association (AKA) Las Vegas Press Conference & Debate Invitation: FDA Crackdown on 7-OH Products and Industry Response
'The 7-OH Fault Line: Can the Industry Find Common Ground?' American Kratom Association (AKA) will host a special press conference to address the recent FDA warning letters targeting 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) products. The event will feature the AKA's official response, expert commentary on public safety implications, and details of the industry's commitment to consumer protection. Dr. Chris McCurdy of the University of Florida, an internationally recognized expert on kratom, will be attending and available to the media. The AKA has issued a national consumer alert on the action. Following the press conference, media are invited to attend a highly anticipated live debate and policy presentation titled: 'The 7-OH Fault Line: Can the Industry Find Common Ground?' This critical session will feature representatives from the American Kratom Association and the Holistic Alternative Recovery Trust (HART)—an organization that supports 7-OH product access—engaging in a robust discussion on science, safety, and regulatory futures. Visit here to register or submit a question beforehand. Press Conference Details 'The 7-OH Fault Line' Debate Details Why It Matters This is a pivotal moment for the kratom industry and public health regulation. As federal action intensifies, the future of kratom—and the distinction between mitragynine and 7-OH products—is on the line. Media will have direct access to the facts, major players, and contrasting perspectives shaping this critical debate. Who Should Attend Local and national press, health reporters, regulatory affairs journalists, and industry media outlets covering FDA policy, herbal supplements, consumer safety, and alternative health products. About American Kratom Association (AKA) American Kratom Association (AKA) is a consumer-based, nonprofit organization, focused on furthering the latest science as guidance for kratom public policy. AKA works to give a voice to millions of Americans by fighting to protect their rights to access safe and natural kratom. For more information, visit and learn more at Media Contact Mac Haddow [email protected] ### SOURCE: American Kratom Association (AKA) Copyright 2025 EZ Newswire
