Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has issued an emergency rule to classify 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), a synthetic compound derived from kratom, as a Schedule I controlled substance, effective immediately. The move follows a recommendation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), whose Commissioner, Dr. Makary, highlighted that 7-OH is up to 13 times more potent than morphine. Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson supported the ban, describing 7-OH as "vape shop morphine" and urging retailers to remove the product from shelves. The substance, which has been sold in smoke shops and vape stores, is now illegal to sell, possess, or distribute in Florida. This action aims to address public health concerns related to the drug's potency and addictive potential. The crackdown on 7-OH in Florida is being carried out with federal government cooperation.