On July 1, 2026, the DEA announced its intent to temporarily place 7-hydroxymitragynine — better known as 7-OH — above a specific concentration threshold into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. The notice publishes in the Federal Register July 6 (Docket No. DEA-1570), with the temporary order following no sooner than 30 days later.
| ❌ Scheduled by this action | ✅ Not covered |
|---|---|
| Concentrated 7-OH gummies, tablets, shots, and strips | Natural Kratom leaf powder |
| Synthetic 7-OH and its derivatives (MP, MGM-15, MGM-16) | Crushed leaf and Kratom tea products |
| Extracts chemically or thermally converted to boost 7-OH past the threshold | Leaf-derived products testing below the 7-OH threshold — including every product in Kraken’s catalog |
The American Kratom Association, which pushed for exactly this distinction for years, summed it up:
“Do not ban kratom because of 7-OH. Ban 7-OH because it is not kratom.”
— Mac Haddow, Senior Fellow on Public Policy, American Kratom Association
What This Means For Kraken: Nothing Changes
Kraken has never sold concentrated, converted, or synthetic 7-OH products. Everything in our catalog — powders, capsules, and extracts alike — starts as natural kratom leaf, is manufactured under GMP-compliant standards, tests below the scheduled 7-OH threshold, and ships with a per-batch certificate of analysis quantifying its alkaloid content. The new federal line is a number on a lab report — and lab reports are something we’ve published since long before regulators required anyone to look.
The products our customers have relied on since 2014 are exactly the category this action protects. The DEA didn’t change what we sell — it confirmed the distinction we built the catalog around.
Quick answers
Is kratom now a controlled substance?
No. Natural kratom leaf remains legal at the federal level. The action schedules 7-OH above the threshold — concentrated, converted, and synthetic products — not the botanical leaf.
Does this affect kratom powder or capsules?
Natural leaf powder and capsules made from it contain only trace 7-OH, far below the scheduled threshold. They are outside the scope of this action.
How do I check what’s actually in my product?
Find the batch number on your label and look up its certificate of analysis on our lab testing page. The alkaloid panel quantifies the batch’s content — the transparency this entire action hinges on.
When does the scheduling take effect?
The notice publishes July 6, 2026. The temporary order can issue on or after August 5, lasts up to two years, and can be extended one more. We track kratom law as it moves — see our legality guide for current status by state.
Shop with the paperwork to prove it.
Every Kraken batch is lab-tested and GMP-compliant, with COAs available before you buy.
View Our Lab Results