7-OH Federal Scheduling: What Buyers Need to Know

STATUS AS OF JULY 25, 2026 — 7-OH products remain legal to purchase under federal law today. The DEA has filed notices to place 7-OH and three related compounds in Schedule I on a temporary basis, effective as early as August 5, 2026. Retailers are setting final order dates in late July and early August.

The short version: on July 1, 2026, the DEA sent two Notices of Intent to the Federal Register, both published July 6. The first places 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) above a specific concentration threshold into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. The second places mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, MGM-15, and MGM-16 into Schedule I with no threshold at all. The law requires a 30-day notice period, which means the scheduling can take effect any time on or after August 5, 2026. Once it does, making, selling, shipping, and possessing these substances above the defined limits becomes subject to Schedule I penalties. Botanical kratom leaf below the threshold is not affected.

What did the DEA actually announce?

Two separate scheduling actions, filed as Notices of Intent on July 1, 2026 and published in the Federal Register on July 6, 2026.

Docket DEA-1570 covers 7-hydroxymitragynine above a specified threshold. The notice targets what it calls isolated or semi-synthetically derived formulations rather than traditional plant material.

Docket DEA-1644 covers three related compounds: mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, MGM-15 (dihydro-7-hydroxymitragynine), and MGM-16 (a fluorinated derivative), including their isomers, esters, ethers, and salts.

DEA Administrator Terrance Cole said the action "gives law enforcement partners the tools needed to address this emerging threat to public safety and health." HHS and FDA issued statements supporting the scheduling. Buyers should understand that federal health agencies have taken a firmly negative public position on these products.

When does 7-OH become illegal?

The earliest effective date is August 5, 2026. Temporary scheduling under 21 U.S.C. 811(h) requires a 30-day window after the Notice of Intent, and the notices were published July 6. The scheduling takes effect when the DEA publishes its final temporary scheduling orders — August 5 or any day after. There is no guarantee of extra days beyond it.

What exactly is being scheduled?

Substance Threshold Docket
7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) Above 0.050% by dry weight, or more than 1.00 mg per article DEA-1570
Mitragynine pseudoindoxyl None — covered at any amount DEA-1644
MGM-15 None — covered at any amount DEA-1644
MGM-16 None — covered at any amount DEA-1644

The threshold on 7-OH is the important nuance. Kratom leaf naturally contains trace 7-OH well below 0.050%, and the notice states that botanical material under the threshold remains uncontrolled. Concentrated products — most tablets, extracts, and isolate powders sold as 7-OH — sit far above it. A single 15 mg tablet exceeds the 1.00 mg per-article line fifteen times over. The DEA-1644 compounds have no threshold at all.

Is regular kratom included?

No. Plain-leaf kratom powder and products whose 7-OH content stays below 0.050% dry weight are outside this action, and the DEA notice says so explicitly. Mitragynine itself, the primary alkaloid in kratom leaf, is not being scheduled. State-level kratom laws still apply and vary widely.

What does Schedule I status mean for buyers?

Once the temporary orders take effect, the covered substances join the most restricted federal drug category. Manufacturing, distribution, import, export, and possession above the thresholds all become subject to Schedule I criminal and civil penalties. This page does not offer legal advice; anyone with questions about personal exposure should talk to an attorney licensed in their state. The factual point buyers need is simple: the legal treatment of these products changes completely on the effective date — including possession, not just sale.

How long does the scheduling last?

Temporary scheduling lasts two years, with a possible one-year extension while the government pursues permanent scheduling. The DEA also published a Request for Information alongside the 7-OH notice, inviting data and public input. A temporary order can become permanent through full rulemaking, and history suggests planning around the restriction staying in place rather than lapsing.

Can I still order 7-OH products right now?

Yes, under federal law, until the orders take effect — subject to your state’s laws. Several states restricted 7-OH ahead of the federal action; a current state-by-state breakdown is maintained at Wholesome Fraction’s laws-by-state guide.

Retailer availability — final order cutoffs. Favor’d ALKz, the most-reviewed vendor on this site, accepts final orders for overnight delivery until Sunday, August 3, 2026: 12:00 PM PST for USPS overnight, 3:00 PM PST for FedEx overnight, and 4:00 PM PST for UPS overnight. Ground and 2-day orders should be placed earlier so packages arrive before August 5. Inventory on several large sizes is already in single digits — current stock and pricing are on their deals page. Other vendors are announcing their own cutoffs, and several have already stopped taking orders.

What happens to orders in transit on the effective date?

The scheduling orders apply from their effective date forward. Reputable retailers are building shipping buffers so everything they sell is delivered before the earliest possible effective date. An overnight order placed at the August 3 cutoffs arrives with a buffer to spare. An order placed with a vendor still selling slower shipping methods on August 3-4 may not — a risk buyers should decline to take.

Could the scheduling be delayed or challenged?

It is possible and not something to plan on. The Request for Information window allows public comment, industry groups have signaled opposition, and litigation over temporary scheduling actions has happened before. None of that changes the current legal posture, and none of it moves the August 5 earliest-effective date.

Frequently asked questions

Is 7-OH banned right now? No. As of July 25, 2026, 7-OH products remain federally legal to purchase. The temporary Schedule I placement takes effect on or after August 5, 2026.

What is the last day to order? It depends on the retailer and shipping speed. Favor’d ALKz accepts overnight orders until August 3, 2026 — 12 PM PST (USPS), 3 PM PST (FedEx), 4 PM PST (UPS). Vendors selling with slow shipping close to August 5 leave no delivery buffer.

Are MGM-15 and pseudoindoxyl products included? Yes. Docket DEA-1644 places mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, MGM-15, and MGM-16 in Schedule I with no concentration threshold.

Is kratom leaf being banned? No. Botanical kratom below the 0.050% 7-OH threshold remains uncontrolled federally, and mitragynine is not part of this action.

Is this permanent? The orders are temporary — two years with a possible one-year extension — while permanent scheduling is considered.

Can the public comment? Yes. The DEA published a Request for Information alongside the 7-OH notice. Comments go through the docket on regulations.gov.

Sources

Federal Register: Temporary Placement of 7-Hydroxymitragynine Above a Specified Threshold in Schedule I (Docket DEA-1570) · Federal Register: Temporary Placement of Mitragynine Pseudoindoxyl, MGM-15, and MGM-16 in Schedule I (Docket DEA-1644) · Federal Register: 7-OH Request for Information · DEA Press Release, July 1, 2026 · HHS/FDA statements · Congressional Research Service LSB11457. Search the docket numbers on regulations.gov for the primary documents.

Changelog

July 25, 2026: Published; retailer final-order cutoffs updated to carrier-specific August 3 times.
July 20, 2026: Initial draft.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. 7ohblack.com reviews products intended for adults 21 and over in jurisdictions where they are legal.