Kentucky has become the second state to classify concentrated or synthetic 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH)—a potent kratom-derived opioid—as a Schedule I narcotic, making its sale, possession, or distribution illegal statewide. Governor Andy Beshear and the Cabinet for Health and Family Services took this decisive step, limiting allowable concentrations of 7-OH to 400 parts per million (0.04%) by dry weight. The rule effectively removes synthetic 7-OH opioid products from the market while leaving access to natural kratom leaf—which contains only trace amounts of 7-OH—unaffected.
This action follows similar moves by the FDA and Florida, both of which clearly distinguished synthetic 7-OH from traditional kratom leaf, targeting only the dangerous, high-potency opioid product. The Global Kratom Coalition has praised Kentucky’s leadership and urged other states to adopt the same approach to protect public health without penalizing responsible kratom users. For more details, read the original coverage at WRAL.
