Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a tropical plant native to Southeast Asia. Its leaves contain dozens of naturally occurring alkaloids, the most notable being mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH). When consumed in traditional or natural forms — such as leaf powder, tea, or extracts — kratom delivers its effects primarily through mitragynine, with only trace amounts of 7-OH present.
Kratom extract is simply a concentrated preparation of the whole plant, designed to deliver more mitragynine and related alkaloids in a smaller serving size. Importantly, extracts — like raw leaf and powder — naturally contain tiny, trace levels of 7-OH. These levels occur in micro-quantities, are not dangerous, and play a natural role in kratom’s overall effect profile.
The confusion arises because 7-OH is also manufactured and sold separately as a semi-synthetic, high-potency isolate.
Trace 7-OH in natural kratom: Always present, but negligible and not a health risk.
Concentrated / synthetic 7-OH: Created in labs or manipulated into unnaturally high levels for gummies, vapes, or “enhanced” capsules. This form binds to opioid receptors far more strongly — reportedly up to 13x the strength of morphine — and carries a much higher risk of abuse.
That’s why the two should not be confused: kratom and kratom extracts ≠ synthetic 7-OH.
On August 13, 2025, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier issued an emergency rule placing 7-OH into Schedule I, making it illegal to sell, possess, or distribute concentrated 7-OH products within the state.
This ruling was aimed at synthetic 7-OH products — things like gummies, tablets, and high-potency isolates — not at traditional kratom or kratom extracts. Natural kratom products inherently contain trace amounts of 7-OH, but those levels are both expected and safe.
For now, kratom itself remains legal in Florida, though some legal experts warn that regulators may try to interpret the 7-OH rule more broadly in the future.
| Substance | What It Is | Legal Status in Florida (as of Aug 13, 2025) | Risk Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kratom leaves/powder/extract | Natural plant with mitragynine + trace 7-OH | Still legal | Safe when used responsibly; contains only micro-levels of 7-OH |
| 7-OH (synthetic / concentrated) | Isolated or boosted alkaloid, many times stronger than morphine | Illegal — Schedule I | High risk of abuse, overdose, and dependence |
Bottom line: Kratom products (including extracts) naturally contain tiny amounts of 7-OH that are not harmful. The Florida ban targets concentrated or synthetic 7-OH products, which are fundamentally different from kratom itself.
Kratom and its extracts are natural products with trace amounts of 7-OH — not a danger on their own. The real concern lies in synthetic or isolated 7-OH, which regulators in Florida (and potentially elsewhere) have rightly recognized as a different, far riskier substance.
Staying informed ensures that consumers, businesses, and policymakers alike don’t conflate natural kratom with synthetic 7-OH — because the difference matters.
Learn More About Kratom Extract
FDA Response to FL making 7-OH illegal
American Kratom Association Consumer Alert
