ROCKFORD, Ill. — Wearing his scrubs, Ald. Tim Durkee (R-1st Ward) made an urgent appeal: put limits on 7-hydroxymitragynine, a potent kratom byproduct better known as 7-OH. He criticized the compound and the absence of clear regulation.

“There’s no law to prevent somebody from being stupid,” he said.

The substance has drawn growing concern from researchers and lawmakers. On July 29, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommended classifying 7-OH as Schedule I — the same category that includes heroin and LSD. Still, the compound appears in tablets, flavored shots, strips and other products on store shelves in Rockford and beyond.

“If you’re going to put that into your body, I guess you have a right to do that because you have a right to be stupid,” Durkee added.

On Monday, Durkee’s proposed ban on 7-OH products advanced out of the city’s code and regulation committee on a 3-2 vote.

What is 7-OH?

The compound is derived from a tiny portion of the kratom leaf. Matthew Hastings of the University of Colorado says chemists have synthesized the substance and brought far more potent versions to market. Durkee — who is also an obstetrician and gynecologist — warned about its risks.

“It has a high dependency, high overdose. It’s problematic,” he said, citing concerns about overdose, withdrawal and its mind-altering effects “since it acts like morphine.” Because 7-OH binds to opioid receptors, Durkee suggested it could be more powerful than morphine.

Craig Katz, government relations and compliance manager for CBD Kratom, argued 7-OH isn’t a natural kratom product and said his stores do not sell it. “We have to make sure that the consumers of our products are safe,” he said.

A kratom byproduct crackdown

At least seven states, including Wisconsin, have enacted bans on 7-hydroxy. If Rockford’s amendment passes, products containing the compound would be removed from shelves; several local stores reportedly sell such items within city limits.

“It’s a great idea that the municipalities are taking the step,” Katz said after reviewing Rockford’s proposed ordinance, calling it thorough.

Assistant city attorney Jacob Rubin told the council in a memo that the compound is a “danger to the public health… known to cause anxiety, depression… and in high doses, the respiratory depression has been found to be fatal.” Recent deaths linked to 7-OH cited in the memo include a husband in Columbus, Ohio, and three overdoses in Los Angeles County.

Supporters of 7-OH sales

Steven Johnson, manager of Peace Novelty for 18 years, defended the products as helping people manage suffering. He described his Rockford store as the “number one spot in the Midwest for kratom products” and urged regulation rather than an outright ban.

In a statement to WIFR, Johnson said that while 7-OH isn’t FDA-approved, many people — including veterans and the elderly — use kratom products to manage pain when prescription medicines are inaccessible or unaffordable. He acknowledged the potential for addiction and problematic packaging, but said his store makes customers aware of risks, advises limited or as-needed use, and supports customers who want to reduce their use. He urged the government and the American Kratom Association to pursue regulation to make products safer for consenting adults instead of banning them.

Katz criticized that position as disingenuous, pointing to the large sums of money involved in an industry estimated at $2 billion to $8 billion.

What’s next

With committee approval secured, the proposed 7-OH restriction now heads to a full City Council vote set for Nov. 17.

“The city, the law, we care about you doing something destructive… where you hurt somebody else, and that you don’t have a right to do,” Durkee said.

State lawmakers in Illinois do not appear to be actively pursuing a 7-OH ban, though other municipalities such as Winnetka and Monticello have moved forward with restrictions in recent months. Durkee said he expects more action soon.

“It’s not FDA approved. It’s pretty much unregulated at present, but I’m assuming that in the near future, it’s probably going to be banned,” he said, adding that he hopes the state steps in before anyone else is hurt.

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This article was adapted from an original report published on wifr.com. All rights belong to the original publisher.