The country's got kratom on the brain. What is it exactly?

The Trump administration is trying to restrict access to a substance you might find at your local smoke shop. 

The FDA in late July announced plans to crack down on 7-OH. Commissioner Marty Makary described it as an opioid that can be more potent than morphine and the agency's pushing to get it classified as a Schedule 1 substance -- like ecstasy or heroin. 

You may not have heard of 7-OH, but you’ve probably heard of kratom. It’s the substance that 7-OH comes from – and it’s controversial in its own right.

Some states have banned kratom. The federal government tried to classify it as a Schedule 1 substance in 2016 but opted not to after getting a wave of pushback.

This year Washington state regulators withdrew a proposal to designate kratom as a Schedule 1 substance, saying it didn’t meet the criteria. So for now, you can buy kratom products in the state. 

We wanted to know more about both kratom and 7-OH, so we checked in with a research professor at the University of Washington for insight. 

Guest:

• Caleb Banta-Green, research professor at the University of Washington and director of the Center for Community-Engaged Drug Education, Epidemiology and Research.

Related stories: 

• FDA recommends concentrated Kratom be scheduled as illicit substance | The Hill
• What to know about changes to kratom sold in Seattle | Axios Seattle
• Kratom & 7-OH: What do we know about use, safety, and overdose risk? | Addictions, Drug & Alcohol Institute (University of Washington)
• What is 7-OH? Opioid-like product may get banned by FDA | USA TODAY

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