Ross Marchand, executive director of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, said President Donald Trump’s comments about looking “very seriously” at approving “natural 7-OH” reflect “a welcome shift” in federal drug policy away from long-standing reliance on prohibition-based regulation.
Marchand said federal regulators have relied too heavily on prohibition when dealing with products such as kratom, cannabis, and vapes. “Up until now, the FDA has recklessly pursued prohibition—even though prohibition almost always backfires,” Marchand said. “From banning alcohol to pursuing heavy-handed policies against cannabis products to all-but-outlawing vapes, onerous restrictions only succeed in bolstering black markets and making consumers less safe. Fortunately, President Trump appears to recognize this simple truth.”
Trump made his remarks during a White House maternal healthcare event in the Oval Office while discussing potential approval of “natural 7-OH,” a compound associated with kratom-derived products. “We’re looking very seriously at natural 7-OH and getting that approved,” Trump said during the Maternal Healthcare Event in the Oval Office. “We’ll take a look at that very strongly. I think us and everybody, we’re looking to see if we can do something there. A lot of people are asking for it.”
7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH, is a naturally occurring compound found in kratom, which is sold in the United States in forms including capsules, powders, drinks, and gummies. The compound exists in small amounts in raw kratom leaves, though some commercial products contain higher concentrations. The Food and Drug Administration has not approved kratom or 7-OH for any medical use in the United States and has issued warnings about concentrated 7-OH products because of safety risks. The agency says those products are not lawful dietary supplements or food additives under federal law, according to the FDA.
Following Trump’s comments, MNG Brands, parent company of CBD Kratom and Korthals’ Collection, said it welcomed federal attention to natural leaf kratom and supported regulatory standards distinguishing natural kratom products from concentrated or synthetic formulations. The company said it supports age restrictions, product testing standards, and clear labeling requirements, according to MNG Brands.
Marchand is executive director of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance and has worked on legal matters involving federal agencies, including the FDA. The Taxpayers Protection Alliance Foundation is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization founded in 2011 that advocates for government transparency through research and analysis on taxation and spending by all levels of government, according to the organization.
