7-OH and mitragynine pseudoindoxyl: DEA proposes a new Schedule I threshold; MGM-15 and MGM-16 stay controlled without one

The Drug Enforcement Administration filed two notices of intent for public inspection, to publish in the Federal Register on October 14, 2026, proposing a new Schedule I threshold for 7-hydroxymitragynine and mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, and stating its intent to later re-issue, without change, the threshold-free temporary control of MGM-15 and MGM-16.

DEA intends to place 7-hydroxymitragynine and mitragynine pseudoindoxyl in Schedule I, either alone or combined, when they are above a threshold: more than 1 mg per gram for solid forms or more than 1 mg per milliliter for liquid preparations, or when the mass of mitragynine divided by the mass of 7-hydroxymitragynine, mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, or their combined amount is less than 100 [1]. That threshold is not in force: the document is a notice of intent, not a temporary scheduling order, and by itself changes nothing [1]. DEA says it is separately withdrawing its earlier July notice of intent, which proposed a different, lower threshold for 7-hydroxymitragynine and never became an order [1].

Mitragynine pseudoindoxyl is in a different position. An August 26 temporary order already placed it in Schedule I with no threshold at all, and that order stays in force until it expires or until the new one publishes and the old one is withdrawn [1]. The new order cannot be issued until at least 30 days after October 14 [1]. If it is issued, it would loosen the current law for pseudoindoxyl: material below the proposed threshold, which is fully controlled now, would become uncontrolled [1]. DEA states that neither it nor HHS has found below-threshold amounts of either substance safe [1].

The second notice states DEA's intent to issue a new temporary Schedule I order for MGM-15 and MGM-16 "without change" and with no threshold, for technical and procedural reasons [2]. The August 26 order already controlling both substances stays in force until it expires or until the new order publishes and the August order is withdrawn [2].

Neither notice is itself a change in the law: both are notices of intent to issue future temporary orders [1]. For 7-hydroxymitragynine and mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, the earliest the new order can issue is 30 days after October 14 [1].

References

1. Schedules of Controlled Substances: Temporary Placement of 7- Hydroxymitragynine and Mitragynine Pseudoindoxyl Above a Specified Threshold in Schedule I — Federal Register (public inspection)
2. Schedules of Controlled Substances: Temporary Placement of MGM-15 and MGM-16 in Schedule I — Federal Register (public inspection)