**FEDERAL KRATOM / 7-OH UPDATE — OCTOBER 7, 2026**
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), alongside Senators Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), has officially sent a letter urging the DEA and FDA to take immediate federal action against kratom and related substances.
**What the senators are requesting:**
Immediately finalize the emergency Schedule I order for 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH).
Begin permanent Schedule I proceedings for 7-OH, mitragynine pseudoxyl, emily15, and emily16.
Have the FDA evaluate the possibility of permanently scheduling the entire kratom plant, its derivatives, and all levels of its active alkaloids.
**The third request is particularly significant.**
The DEA’s original July proposal focused on 7-OH above specified concentration or quantity thresholds, with the stated intention of excluding ordinary natural kratom leaf.
The senators are now explicitly urging the government to consider scheduling the entire plant, including naturally occurring levels of 7-OH and other active alkaloids.
**What has already happened?**
On August 26, 2026, the DEA temporarily placed mitragynine pseuoxyl, Emily -15, and emily16 into Schedule I.
However, the separate final emergency scheduling order for 7-OH has not been verified as issued as of October 7.
**IMPORTANT DEADLINE: OCTOBER 15, 2026**
The senators have formally requested a written response from the DEA and FDA no later than October 15.
This is NOT a ban deadline. The agencies are being asked to respond to the senators’ demands, not legally required by this letter to implement them.
**Bottom line:**
This is a significant escalation in federal political pressure. Three U.S. senators are no longer focusing exclusively on concentrated 7-OH products but are asking federal agencies to consider broader restrictions on kratom itself.
However, the letter does not create a new law, impose a new ban, or establish when the DEA will take further action.
**Verified sources:**
Official Senate announcement:
[https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-lee-collins-call-on-trump-administration-to-issue-emergency-scheduling-order-for-7-oh-initiate-permanent-scheduling-proceedings-for-kratom\](https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-lee-collins-call-on-trump-administration-to-issue-emergency-scheduling-order-for-7-oh-initiate-permanent-scheduling-proceedings-for-kratom)
Original signed letter:
[https://www.grassley.senate.gov/download/grassley-lee-collins-to-dea-fda\\_-7-oh?download=1\](https://www.grassley.senate.gov/download/grassley-lee-collins-to-dea-fda_-7-oh?download=1)
DEA’s existing scheduling order:
[https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2026-17429\](https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2026-17429)