Protect Natural Kratom – Follow the FDA’s and Florida’s Lead

I am writing as an Ohio resident to strongly oppose the recent call to classify natural kratom as an illegal drug.

I am concerned about the proliferation of concentrated 7-OH like you.  However, the Board seeks to lump together natural leaf kratom and concentrated synthetic 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) opioid products – this is a mistake. Natural leaf kratom has been consumed safely for centuries and at least 50 years in the US. Bad actors have recently begun producing high-potency synthetic 7-OH products that are 13 times more potent than morphine – these products are not kratom!

The recent actions from the FDA on July 29 and from the Florida Attorney General on August 13, clearly distinguishes and protects natural leaf kratom access whilst clearly putting the target on concentrated 7-OH opioid products. Ohio should follow the lead of the FDA and focus on eliminating the real problem whilst maintaining access to natural kratom for the hundreds of thousands of Ohioans that use it for its functional benefits.

Natural kratom leaf has been safely used for centuries in Southeast Asia and more than 23 million Americans today. For many, including myself, it is a vital tool and alternative that helps support my everyday life.

By criminalizing natural kratom, Ohio would:

• Unfairly punish responsible adults who use natural kratom safely.

   

• Push consumers toward unregulated black-market products.

   

• Ignore the FDA’s balanced approach that distinguishes between dangerous syntheticsand natural leaf kratom.

I urge you to amend the proposal to focus only on synthetic kratom derivatives like concentrated synthetic 7-OH opioid products – not natural leaf kratom.

Please protect Ohioans’ freedom of choice while ensuring real public health risks are addressed responsibly.