If you follow kratom news at all, you have seen "7-OH" in nearly every headline this year. It shows up in federal scheduling notices, state laws, and city ordinances, and it is the reason many recent "kratom ban" stories are not actually about natural kratom at all.
Here is a plain explanation of what 7-OH is, how it relates to the kratom leaf, why regulators treat 7-OH products differently, and how to find it on a lab report.
What Is 7-OH?
7-OH is short for 7-hydroxymitragynine, one of the dozens of alkaloids found in the leaves of Mitragyna speciosa, the tree kratom comes from. It is said "seven-hy-DROX-ee mi-TRA-juh-neen," and almost everyone shortens it to 7-OH ("seven-oh-aitch"). Our kratom pronunciation guide covers the other names you will see on a label.
In the natural leaf, 7-OH is a minor alkaloid. The DEA's October 2026 scheduling notice states that in its natural botanical form, 7-OH makes up "less than two percent of the total alkaloid content" of the plant. The most abundant alkaloid in the leaf is mitragynine.
7-OH in the Leaf vs. 7-OH Products
This is the distinction that matters most, and it is the one most headlines blur.
- Natural kratom leaf (powders, capsules, crushed leaf) contains 7-OH only in trace amounts, alongside mitragynine and many other alkaloids.
- 7-OH products are sold specifically for their 7-OH content, at concentrations far above anything found in the leaf. Federal agencies describe them as concentrated or chemically altered products, and they are often sold as tablets, shots, or gummies in convenience stores and smoke shops.
Because the two categories share a compound but not a profile, regulators have increasingly written rules that target the second category while leaving the first alone. We covered how that line developed in Natural Kratom vs. Synthetic 7-OH.
Is 7-OH Legal?
The answer depends on where you are and what kind of product you mean, and it is changing quickly.
Federal
In July 2025, HHS recommended that 7-OH above a specified threshold be placed in Schedule I. In July 2026, the DEA announced its intent to temporarily schedule it. In October 2026, HHS recommended a new two-part threshold, and the DEA replaced its July notice with a new one that would temporarily place 7-OH and MGPI in Schedule I when a product exceeds either test:
- more than 1 milligram per gram (or per milliliter for liquids), or
- a mitragynine-to-7-OH ratio below 100.
That order can be published no earlier than November 13, 2026. We break down the details in our coverage of DEA action on 7-OH and in our running news updates.
State
States have moved faster than federal agencies. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Colorado caps 7-OH at 2 percent of total alkaloids, Oklahoma caps it at 1 percent, and Rhode Island bans 7-OH products outright. Other states, including Mississippi, ban synthetic 7-OH while allowing natural leaf sales with an age limit. Our guide to what kratom ban laws actually cover explains the main types of state law.
What Is MGPI?
MGPI stands for mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, another compound related to kratom alkaloids. The DEA placed MGPI in Schedule I on a temporary basis in August 2026, along with two synthetic 7-OH derivatives called MGM-15 and MGM-16. The October 2026 notice folds MGPI into the same threshold as 7-OH because, according to the DEA, trace amounts have reportedly been found in some botanical kratom products.
How to Find 7-OH on a Lab Report
A complete certificate of analysis lists 7-hydroxymitragynine as its own line, usually as a percentage by weight (w/w%). Two quick conversions help you read it against the new federal threshold:
- Percent to milligrams per gram: multiply the percentage by 10. A 7-OH result of 0.05 percent equals 0.5 mg per gram.
- The ratio: divide the mitragynine percentage by the 7-OH percentage. A report showing 1.0 percent mitragynine and 0.005 percent 7-OH has a ratio of 200.
If a product's report does not list 7-OH at all, ask the vendor for a full alkaloid panel. Our guide on how to read a kratom lab report walks through every section.
Where NuWave Stands
We focus on traditional, naturally occurring alkaloid profiles: lab-tested whole-leaf kratom powders and kratom capsules, along with conventional standard extracts. We do not carry 7-OH products, and we do not carry MGPI, MGM-15, or MGM-16. Questions about a specific batch? Email orders@nuwavebotanicals.com.
7-OH FAQ
Is 7-OH the same thing as kratom?
No. 7-OH is one alkaloid that occurs in kratom leaf in trace amounts. Products sold as 7-OH contain it at concentrations far above what the leaf contains, and regulators treat them as a separate category.
Does natural kratom contain 7-OH?
Yes, in small amounts. The DEA states that 7-OH makes up less than two percent of total alkaloid content in the natural plant. Mitragynine is the most abundant alkaloid.
Is 7-OH being banned?
Several states restrict or ban 7-OH products, and the DEA has announced its intent to temporarily place 7-OH above a two-part threshold in Schedule I, with an order possible on or after November 13, 2026.
What does 7-OH stand for?
7-hydroxymitragynine. The "7" refers to the position on the molecule where a hydroxyl group (the "OH") is attached.
We comply with all applicable state and local laws. Orders to restricted areas are not fulfilled. Check your local regulations before ordering.
FDA Disclaimer
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Kratom products are intended strictly for individuals 18 years of age or older, or 21+ where required by applicable state law.