Florida Bans 7-OH: Emergency Action Against 'Legal Morphine' Supplement

Emergency Action Against 7-OH

• 🚨 Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced an emergency action to prohibit "7-hydroxymitragynine" (7-OH) in the state.
• 💊 7-OH, often sold in smoke and vape shops as a pain reliever and mood booster, is now classified as a Schedule One drug, similar to heroin and meth.
• 🛒 The product, which has seen the largest consumption in Florida, was previously available in approximately 5,000 stores across the state.

State Officials' Concerns

• ⚠️ State officials have dubbed 7-OH "legal morphine" and warn it could lead to another opioid epidemic.
• 📈 Florida Poison Control reported 191 calls related to the parent molecule of metrogenine in the last year, a 14% increase in the last 3 months directly attributed to 7-OH.
• 🚫 Officials emphasize the need to act proactively, referencing past experiences with fentanyl and prescription drug crises.

Counterarguments and Disagreement

• 🔬 Despite state concerns, some doctors argue that after half a billion servings consumed nationally, there have been no reported deaths attributed to 7-OH and only eight adverse events.
• 🌱 Dr. Smith suggests that 7-OH could potentially aid in weaning addicts off more serious drugs, citing a 34% reduction in fatal opioid overdoses in Florida.
• ⚖️ Florida officials, however, are proceeding with the ban, stating they do not want to risk discovering the full extent of its dangers.