To the Honorable Governor of Tennessee and Members of the Tennessee General Assembly,

We, the undersigned citizens of Tennessee, express our serious concern regarding the public health and safety risks associated with isolated and concentrated forms of 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), a highly potent alkaloid found in Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa). While we acknowledge that natural Kratom leaf has a history of traditional use, we believe that the availability of isolated or concentrated 7-OH poses a significantly elevated risk to the health and well-being of Tennesseans. Therefore, we urge the immediate enactment of legislation to ban the sale, distribution, and possession of isolated and concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) within the state of Tennessee.

Scientific research has demonstrated that 7-OH exhibits significantly stronger opioid receptor activity compared to other compounds in Kratom and even some traditional opioids. The isolation and concentration of this alkaloid dramatically increase its potency, leading to a heightened risk of serious adverse effects, including respiratory depression, overdose, and dependence. These concentrated forms often lack the natural buffering effects of the other alkaloids present in the whole Kratom leaf, making them inherently more dangerous and unpredictable.

The availability of unregulated and potentially misrepresented concentrated 7-OH products poses a significant public health risk. These products can be significantly more potent than natural Kratom and may lead to unintentional overdoses and other severe health consequences.

Therefore, we, the undersigned, respectfully request that the Tennessee General Assembly take immediate action to ban the sale, distribution, and possession of isolated and concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) to safeguard the health and well-being of all Tennesseans from the amplified risks associated with this potent alkaloid. This petition is not intended to advocate for a ban on the natural Kratom leaf at this time, but specifically targets the dangers of its isolated and concentrated form, 7-OH.