Last week, Representative Lance Gooden (R-TX) introduced a bill to crack down on dangerous synthetic opioids sold in products marketed as kratom.
Rep. Gooden’s End Gas Station Heroin Act would permanently classify several synthetic opioids, including synthetic 7-OH and mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, as Schedule I drugs. The bill would also strengthen federal enforcement against emerging synthetic opioids and target companies that make and distribute them.
Synthetic kratom products contain concentrated or lab-made compounds such as 7-OH, which are different from naturally occurring kratom. Supporters of the legislation say these products can be sold through convenience stores and other retailers, raising concerns about access and enforcement.
“My bill permanently schedules these drugs, closes loopholes and targets the entities putting them into our communities,” Rep. Gooden said.
The renewed push for federal action against synthetic kratom products comes after the deaths of two University of Mississippi students last week. Synthetic kratom products were reportedly found at the scene, but authorities have not determined the official cause of death.
Rep. Gooden said existing enforcement mechanisms have struggled to keep pace as new synthetic compounds enter the market across the country.
The Drug Enforcement Administration has taken temporary action to schedule certain synthetic substances, but Rep. Gooden said those measures are limited and do not provide a permanent framework for addressing new compounds as they emerge.
Rep. Gooden stressed that the legislation will close loopholes that allow manufacturers to make minor molecular changes to synthetic opioids and potentially evade existing enforcement. The bill would establish permanent federal controls intended to cover specific synthetic compounds and strengthen enforcement against companies involved in their production and distribution.
“Dangerous synthetic opioids powerful enough to fuel addiction and destroy lives should not be sitting on convenience store shelves next to snacks and energy drinks,” Rep. Gooden said.
