Atlantic City Moved Early Against Concentrated 7-OH Products Now Targeted by DEA

ATLANTIC CITY — Atlantic City Councilman Jesse Kurtz says the city was ahead of the curve when it moved to prohibit concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine products, commonly known as 7-OH, before the federal government began taking steps to place the increasingly controversial substances under federal controlled-substance restrictions.

Speaking on WOND's Talking with Anne, Kurtz discussed his push for the local prohibition and the growing national concern surrounding concentrated 7-OH products sometimes sold at gas stations, smoke shops and convenience stores.

"We were ahead of the curve when it came to prohibiting OH7 in Atlantic City, and I want to highlight that," Kurtz said.

The federal government is now moving in the same direction.

On July 1, the Drug Enforcement Administration announced the beginning of a temporary scheduling process for 7-OH above a specified concentration threshold, along with three synthetic 7-OH derivatives. The DEA said the targeted substances pose an "imminent threat to public safety."

Importantly, the federal action does not target ordinary botanical kratom containing naturally occurring 7-OH below the proposed threshold. The distinction largely mirrors one Kurtz said Atlantic City made when considering its own restrictions.

Kurtz said his original proposal would have prohibited all kratom products in Atlantic City.

But after receiving feedback that natural kratom is used by some people for pain relief, Kurtz said he narrowed the measure to focus on concentrated or synthetic products.

"At first I introduced a ban on all kratom products, and I got pushback that the natural kratom is used for pain relief," Kurtz said. "So in reaching a consensus, I was like, all right, let's keep the natural kratom, but let's ban the synthetic stuff."

Kratom comes from the Mitragyna speciosa tree native to Southeast Asia. According to the Food and Drug Administration, 7-OH occurs naturally in the kratom plant in small amounts, but concentrated 7-OH products can contain substantially higher levels of the compound. The FDA has warned consumers about concentrated products such as tablets, gummies, drink mixes and shots.

The FDA began recommending federal scheduling of certain 7-OH products in July 2025. The DEA's July 2026 action advanced that process by announcing its intent to temporarily schedule concentrated 7-OH above a specified threshold and three related synthetic substances.

Kurtz said the products targeted by Atlantic City's prohibition have sometimes been referred to as "gas station heroin," and he argued their effects and addictive potential are more comparable to opioids than traditional cannabis products.

Federal regulators likewise characterize concentrated 7-OH as an opioid threat. The FDA says 7-OH acts on opioid receptors and has warned that concentrated products pose risks including addiction and other serious health consequences.

Kurtz said Atlantic City's action hasn't ended with passage of the prohibition. He said he recently worked with local enforcement officials after discovering a business advertising the products.

"Just this week, I was working with some of our enforcement people and got one of the stores to, you know, take down advertisements for it," Kurtz said.

The distinction between concentrated 7-OH products and traditional kratom is likely to become increasingly important as federal regulators move forward.

For Kurtz, the latest federal action validates Atlantic City's decision to distinguish between the two rather than prohibit kratom altogether.