Federal Policy Watch: White House Signals Potential Shift on 'Natural 7-OH' Classification, Reassuring Plain Leaf Kratom Merchants

• Immediate Legal Status Changes: President Trump's recent comments suggest a potential federal pivot towards approving "natural 7-OH" (trace amounts in plain leaf kratom), reinforcing earlier FDA statements that differentiate plain leaf from 7-OH dominant products. Crucially, the DEA has not yet initiated formal scheduling for 7-OH, and plain leaf kratom is not currently targeted for federal scheduling.
• Payment Processing/Bank Stability Risks: This development signals a potentially more favorable federal stance, which could alleviate some long-term concerns for payment processors and banks regarding plain leaf kratom transactions, though no immediate changes to processing stability are expected.
• Shipping/Logistics Warnings: There are no immediate federal shipping or logistics warnings or restrictions resulting from this news.

President Trump's statement on May 11, 2026, indicating his administration is "looking very seriously at natural 7-OH and getting that approved," offers a potential counterpoint to a 2025 FDA recommendation to classify 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) as a Schedule I controlled substance. Previous statements from FDA Commissioner Marty Makary clarified that this recommendation specifically targeted 7-OH dominant products above a concentration threshold, explicitly stating that "kratom leaf will not be part of that recommendation" and that plain leaf kratom and 7-OH are "night and day in terms of the public health risk." The DEA has not yet begun the formal process to classify 7-OH. This suggests a continued federal distinction protecting natural, plain leaf kratom from scheduling efforts.

Source: Kratom Science via Sentinel Newsroom