The Michigan House is considering legislation that would effectively ban 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), a naturally occurring compound in kratom. This would criminalize responsible use and drive people to the black market.
The science says that 7-OH is not a synthetic drug but a natural metabolite of kratom. After hundreds of millions of uses, there are zero confirmed deaths from 7-OH alone. Peer-reviewed studies have found no evidence of widespread harm and no unreasonable risk of overdose.
Instead of prohibition, Michigan should adopt science-based regulation that ensures consumer safety while preserving access.