Update: Florida Takes Emergency Action Against Kratom 7 

 On August 13, 2025, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier issued an emergency rule classifying 7-hydroxymitragynine (kratom 7) as a Schedule I controlled substance. This decision was based on its extreme potency—up to 13x stronger than morphine—and its high risk for addiction, overdose, and death.  

 The emergency ban was enacted to protect public health, especially vulnerable populations including youth and individuals with mental health challenges. Florida’s action sets a critical precedent for other states and federal agencies to follow.

We urge lawmakers nationwide to take similar steps to regulate or ban kratom 7, and to protect families from further preventable loss

 My family has already paid the ultimate price. Let Florida’s action be the beginning—not the end—of meaningful change.

Original post

My brother died by suicide after a horrifying episode of psychosis triggered by kratom withdrawal. He hadn’t slept in days. He spoke in riddles, claimed his thoughts were colliding in a “cluster,” and despite our family’s efforts to intervene, he believed death was the only solution.

Kratom is sold as a “natural” herbal product—but the FDA warns it can cause psychosis, seizures, liver toxicity, and addiction. It binds to the same brain receptors as opioids. The CDC found it was the cause of death in 60% of the 152 overdose cases they studied. Yet in our counties, kratom products are still sold openly, often with no safety labeling or dosage guidelines.

Cities like San Diego and Oceanside have already banned kratom. Now it’s time for Monterey and Santa Cruz County to protect our communities.

We are calling on local leaders to:

Ban kratom sales
Enforce age limits and clear safety labeling
Fund public education efforts on kratom’s mental health risks 

My brother was not himself in his final days leading up to his death. He was a vibrant, charismatic, loving, soul with so much more life to live. He was just talking about wanting a child of his own and settling down and how he is ready for that life, days before he took his own. He had 4 or 5 different forms of kratom and different brands all bought within the Monterey and Santa Cruz counties. I 100% blame the lack of regulation and misleading information on these products in my brothers untimely death. He was trying to stop taking it and this was the affect and outcome of discontinuing its use. His could have been and many more can be prevented if we act now and ban the sale of kratom in our counties. It should be a level 1 controlled substance and sale and distribution should be a felony. We shouldn't allow this toxic, deadly substance to be available to anyone that walks into a gas station where no ID is needed for purchase. PLEASE ACT NOW
Please sign and share. One more death is too many. 

No family should ever have to experience this awful tragedy.