The federal government is cracking down on some potent kratom-related compounds — two of which are currently sold in consumer products such as powders, chewable tablets and liquid shots at gas stations, smoke shops and convenience stores.
The US Department of Justice, which includes the Drug Enforcement Administration, has classified three semisynthetic opioid-like compounds as Schedule I substances — the category the federal government uses for illicit substances with “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.” The Schedule I list also includes heroin, LSD and cannabis.
The scheduling is for two years on an emergency basis, according to the announcement released August 25.
In the announcement, US Attorney General Todd Blanche said the “Justice Department is acting before these dangerous compounds become a broader threat.”
The substances are “being manufactured and sold in consumer products, often under labels that obscure their true risks,” Blanche added. “This action will protect our nation’s children and communities from the dangers of drug addiction and abuse.”
