FRANKFORT, Ky. (LEX 18) — Gov. Andy Beshear announced Tuesday that his administration will classify 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) as a Schedule I narcotic, making it illegal in Kentucky to sell, possess or distribute any isolated or concentrated forms of the substance.

“We have marked three straight years of declines in overdose deaths in Kentucky, and that is progress we’re committed to building on as we work to protect more lives in the fight against addiction,” said Gov. Beshear. “Deadly and addictive drugs like 7-OH have no place in our communities, and this step will help us get these drugs off the streets and provide us more tools to keep Kentuckians safe.”

The decision comes as the state records declines in overdose deaths for a third consecutive year. 7-OH is a concentrated byproduct of the kratom plant that can bind to opioid receptors and has potential for abuse.

“When kratom is altered to create synthetic opioids, it becomes a threat to the public’s health,” said Cabinet for Health and Family Services Secretary Dr. Steven Stack. “It puts people at risk and undermines the strides Kentucky has made in reducing the scourge of addiction.”

Although 7-OH occurs naturally in kratom, it appears only in very small amounts. Commercial products such as shots, powders or capsules can contain concentrated, potentially dangerous levels of the substance and have been sold over the counter.

The Cabinet for Health and Family Services is updating regulations to designate isolated and concentrated forms of 7-OH as Schedule I substances — the same category as heroin, LSD and fentanyl analogs. Once finalized, law enforcement and regulatory agencies will be able to immediately begin removing these products from retail shelves statewide.

The move follows Beshear’s emergency designation in August that placed bromazolam on the Schedule I list, effectively banning the drug from being sold in Kentucky.

This article was adapted from an original report published on lex18.com. All rights belong to the original publisher.