A coalition of consumer advocacy, free market, and drug policy reform groups oppose measures to prohibit and ban kratom-derived 7-OH products.
WASHINGTON, DC – A diverse coalition of consumer advocacy groups, free market organizations, drug policy reformers, and public policy advocates announced today their firm opposition to proposed measures to prohibit and ban kratom-derived products, including 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH).
In a letter addressed to the House Judiciary Committee, the coalition warns that such restrictions risk undermining public safety rather than protecting it.
“Rather than permitting a policy of ‘ban first, ask questions later,’ Congress should exercise its authority to pursue a regulatory framework that prioritizes consumer protections for 7-OH products. That means strict age verification, licensing requirements, clear labeling standards, independent testing, and transparent reporting of potency and ingredients. It also requires investment in public education so families and communities can make informed choices with the latest science,” write members of the coalition.
The coalition includes Consumer Choice Center, Consumer Action for a Strong Economy (CASE), Doctors for Drug Policy Reform, End It For Good, Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP), and the Taxpayers Protection Alliance.
In July, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended that 7-OH be listed as a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act, the harshest category under federal law.
Thus far, authorities have presented no compelling evidence or data demonstrating that this popular compound constitutes a public health emergency. Over a million Americans have consumed more than one billion servings of 7-OH, yet the FDA’s own data show only about 40 total adverse health events — hundreds fewer than are associated with common household soap — and not a single confirmed death from 7-OH ingested in isolation.
“The regulation of 7-OH would constitute a scientific and evidence-based path forward that allows for appropriate quality control, further research, and consumer protection, while preserving access to safer and more affordable options for those seeking wellness or struggling with addiction,” write the coalition in their letter.
The coalition urges the committee and public health authorities at the FDA and DEA to reject sweeping prohibitionist measures and instead enact evidence-based regulation that protects both public health and consumer autonomy.
