PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office said it’s taking action against stores that sell an unregulated substance similar to opioids, including its addictive qualities.
Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele said his office has sent a letter to retailers who sell 7-Hydroxymitragynine, also called 7-OH. The county views the substance as illegal under Pennsylvania’s designer drug statute.
“We're putting people on notice of this. We served stores that we are aware are selling these products, and we'll be back in to see if they continue to sell them,” Steele said.
Seven-OH is found in small quantities in Kratom, but highly concentrated versions are available at smoke and vape shops, convenience stores and gas stations with no age requirement, as pills, vapes, drinks and gummies.
Health officials said 7-OH triggers the same receptors in the brain as opioids and also has similar withdrawal and addictive qualities.
Steele said that while there are conversations of a state or federal ban, after a Montgomery County Grand Jury looked at retailers selling THC, 7-OH, and other intoxicating chemicals, action is needed now.
“There's a myth out there that the public thinks that these products, because they're being sold in a store, aren't dangerous. They are,” Steele said.
Steele said that without regulation or age restrictions, parents need to be aware that kids can buy these products over the counter.
“We need people to understand how dangerous it is. We need to dissuade young people from thinking that it's okay because it can ruin their lives.”
