SSDP Joins Letter to Protect 7-OH (Kratom related Substance)

A broad coalition of consumer advocates and drug-policy reform groups recently sent a letter to the House Judiciary Committee Chairman, Jim Jordan, encouraging Congress not to ban 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), a compound related to kratom. The entire letter is included at the bottom of this blog post.

The letter argues that the FDA’s push to schedule 7-OH under the Controlled Substances Act would create harmful, unintended consequences while perpetuating the needless drug war. Instead of criminalizing 7-OH, the coalition emphasizes that prohibtionary measures would drive people towards illegal markets and worsen safety outcomes.

The coalition urges lawmakers to adopt a regulatory approach to address 7-OH through clearly defined age restrictions, accurate labeling, independent product testing, and licensing requirements. Proper regulation, rather than criminal punishment, will be far more effective at reducing risks while improving public safety. The entire letter is included below:

“The Honorable Jim Jordan
Chairman, House Judiciary Committee
2138 Rayburn House Building
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Chairman Jordan and Members of the Committee,

We write to you as a coalition of consumer advocacy groups, free market organizations,
drug policy reformists, and public policy advocates to express our strong opposition to
eJorts that would prohibit and practically outlaw kratom derivative products like 7-
hydroxymitragynine (7-OH). Such measures are misguided and would undermine public
safety rather than improve it.

Hundreds of thousands of Americans depend on 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) to support
wellness and reduce illicit substance use in a safe and responsible manner. For many, 7-
OH, like kratom, serves as a vital harm reduction tool, keeping them away from harmful
alternatives that carry far greater risks. Prohibition would criminalize these individuals and
drive them toward unsafe, unregulated markets with no guardrails, undermining years of
progress in combating the illicit foreign drug trade that this Committee has long sought to
address, while reigniting a new war on drugs that would devastate communities across the
country.

History teaches us that prohibition does not eliminate demand. It drives demand
underground, creating greater risks from untested products, contamination, and
unchecked criminal distribution networks. Public safety demands a smarter, evidence-based approach.

As you may know, in July, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended that 7-OH
be listed as a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act. Notably,
authorities presented no compelling evidence or data demonstrating that this popular
compound constitutes a public health emergency. Over a million Americans have
consumed more than one billion servings of 7-OH, yet the FDA’s own data show only about
40 adverse health events – hundreds fewer than are associated with soap – and not a single
confirmed death from 7-OH ingested in isolation.

Accordingly, leading researchers from Johns Hopkins, Harvard and UCLA stress that 7-OH
should not be considered a public health crisis and that available data show no evidence
of overdose deaths, respiratory depression, or widespread dependence. No oral lethal
dose (LD50) has been found in mice, in contrast to the known lethality of opioids – and even
substances like Tylenol.

Rather than permitting a policy of “ban first, ask questions later,” Congress should exercise
its authority to pursue a regulatory framework that prioritizes consumer protections for 7-
OH products. That means strict age verification, licensing requirements, clear labeling
standards, independent testing, and transparent reporting of potency and ingredients. It
also requires investment in public education so families and communities can make
informed choices with the latest science.

The regulation of 7-OH would constitute a scientific and evidence-based path forward that
allows for appropriate quality control, further research, and consumer protection, while
preserving access to safer and more affordable options for those seeking wellness or
struggling with addiction. Responsible oversight and rigorous standards can address any
genuine risks without criminalizing law-abiding consumers or erasing years of progress in
the fight against the foreign drug trade.

We urge the Committee to reject sweeping prohibitionist measures and instead enact
evidence-based regulation that protects both public health and consumer autonomy.
Thank you for your leadership and attention to this important issue.

Sincerely,

Consumer Choice Center, Consumer Action for a Strong Economy, Doctors for Drug Policy Reform, End It For Good, Students for Sensible Drug Policy, and Taxpayers Protection Alliance.”