More than 32,000 Americans have joined together to oppose a federal ban on 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), marking a major milestone in a rapidly growing national movement pushing back against what advocates describe as government overreach that ignores science, real-world data, and lived experience. The 7-HOPE Alliance, (7-HOPE) and The Holistic Alternative Recovery Trust (HART) announced the milestone today, underscoring a clear shift in the national conversation surrounding 7-OH. Once framed almost exclusively through fear-based narratives, the compound is now increasingly discussed by scientists, consumer advocates, and major media outlets as a potential harm-reduction tool that warrants responsible regulation, not prohibition.
Key Highlights
- The national movement opposing a ban on 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) has surpassed 32,000 signatures on Change.org, marking it one of the largest grassroots responses to a proposed ban in recent years.
- The DEA is actively considering scheduling 7-OH under the Controlled Substances Act, despite growing evidence that the compound does not meet the statutory criteria for prohibition.
- The 30,000th signer, Eric Linkenhoker credits 7-OH with helping him rebuild his life after prescription opioid addiction following a serious back injury.
- Dozens of organizations, including consumer advocates, recovery groups, physicians, veterans’ organizations, and family-focused groups, are urging the DEA to halt the scheduling process and defer to science, data, and harm-reduction principles.
- Major national media outlets are increasingly questioning whether DEA scheduling would repeat the failures of past drug prohibition efforts and push consumers toward far more dangerous substances.
Personal Stories Fuel the Petition Milestone
The petition’s 32,000th signer, Eric Linkenhoker, said his decision to add his name was shaped by his own experience with prescription opioid addiction following a serious back injury. Initially prescribed OxyContin for pain management, Linkenhoker said his dependency spiraled, leading to homelessness and estrangement from his family. He said he eventually turned to 7-OH as an alternative to manage his back pain.
“7-OH gave me a way to manage pain without returning to prescription opioids or the street,” Linkenhoker said. “It helped me get my life back.” Linkenhoker is now housed, reunited with family members, and employed, according to the advocacy groups. His account mirrors thousands of testimonials submitted alongside the petition, which frequently cite opioid dependence, chronic pain and concerns about losing access to what users describe as a lower-risk alternative.
Scientific and Organizational Consensus
The 32,000-signature milestone coincides with the rapid expansion of a national coalition opposing a 7-OH ban. Physicians, veterans’ advocates, recovery organizations, fiscal watchdogs, youth groups, and consumer protection organizations are now publicly warning that prohibition would do more harm than good. These groups agree that banning 7-OH would repeat the failures of the War on Drugs, while cutting off promising avenues for research, recovery, and harm reduction.
Across the spectrum, from medical experts to fiscal watchdogs and youth advocates, the message is the same: regulation, not prohibition, is the path forward.
Moms for America said, “As mothers, we want rules that actually work. Prohibition doesn’t protect families — it drives people toward unregulated, dangerous alternatives and makes things worse, not better.”
Doctors for Drug Policy Reform warned that banning 7-OH would “predictably endanger public health” by pushing people toward unregulated products and blocking vital scientific investigation.
The Grunt Style Foundation stated that removing 7-OH “doesn’t make veterans safer — it pushes them toward contaminated street sources,” noting that many veterans rely on it to manage pain and PTSD without the fog of opioids.
The Taxpayers Protection Alliance called the FDA’s effort a “costly and reckless mission,” pointing out that prohibition “has never worked and always hurts the people it claims to protect.”
Students for Sensible Drug Policy warned that scheduling 7-OH “gives law enforcement one more reason to target young people,” calling instead for education and transparency.
End It For Good cautioned that bans “push people toward fentanyl-laced street drugs and unknown dosages,” undermining public health and safety.
The Consumer Choice Center urged policymakers to pursue “evidence-based regulation rather than criminalization,” protecting both consumers and scientific progress.
Jeff Singer of the Cato Institute said, “The choice is clear: either let 7-OH fall into the hands of cartels or regulate it to reduce harm. America doesn’t need another fentanyl crisis, especially one caused by our own actions.”
Geoffrey Lawrence of the Reason Foundation summed up the coalition’s concern: “Every time Washington schedules another substance, it hands power to cartels and unregulated actors. The answer isn’t banning 7-OH — it’s giving people honest information, clear standards, and the freedom to decide for themselves.”
Moms for America said it joined the coalition after reviewing concerns that a ban could disproportionately affect vulnerable pain patients and families seeking alternatives to prescription opioids.“ When policies remove lower-risk options without offering safe alternatives, families pay the price,” the organization said in a statement. “We believe it is important to ensure that pain patients are not pushed toward more dangerous or unregulated substances.”
Momentum Builds Across Science, Media, and Policy
In recent weeks, key coverage and statements have underscored a turning point in the national dialogue:
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Reason: What is 7-OH and why did the FDA seize this potentially life-saving substance? — Reason Foundation research director Geoffrey Lawrence argues that there’s no basis to conclude that 7-OH products are dangerous. In fact, there’s far more evidence that they may help people overcome opioid addiction.
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Forbes: The Science Behind The Fight Over 7-OH — A national feature asking whether science, not panic, should guide U.S. drug policy, highlighting 7-OH’s safety record, potential role in reducing opioid deaths, and growing calls for research over prohibition.
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Newsmax: D.C.'s War on Some Drugs Short on Sense, Compassion — Policy strategist Charlie Kolean criticized the FDA’s ‘crusade’ against 7-OH as political theater over science, warning that banning a low-risk, natural alternative will push Americans back toward fentanyl and other deadly opioids.”
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OANN / Matt Gaetz Show commentary and interview with Cato Institute’s Dr. Jeffrey Singer: Part 1 and Part 2 — Former Congressman Matt Gaetz argues that the recent push to classify the kratom derivative as a Schedule I controlled substance is about money and power, not safety concerns.
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USA Today: RFK Jr. wants to ban kratom and its compounds. The consequences could be deadly — Consumers and researchers weigh in on 7-OH’s role as a harm-reduction alternative.
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RealClear Health: Sensible Harm Reduction Means Preserving Safer Substitutes — A national op-ed warning that a federal 7-OH ban would drive the market underground, empower cartels, and make use more dangerous, urging regulation and education over prohibition.
Each of these reports points to the same conclusion: the evidence does not support a ban and Americans are rallying to protect access to a safer, natural option.
Looking Ahead: The Fight Is Far From Over
Despite growing public support, organizations involved in the effort say the policy debate over 7-OH is far from settled, with attention now shifting toward coordinated national opposition to what they describe as an unjust regulatory action.
HART and the 7-HOPE Alliance said the campaign has evolved into a nationwide coalition of tens of thousands of consumers, families, recovery advocates and allied organizations, many of whom have mobilized in response to concerns that a ban would remove safer alternatives and repeat the failures of past drug policy.
Jeff Smith, Policy Director of the Holistic Alternative Recovery Trust, said the end-of-year milestone reflects more than petition growth, particularly as supporters enter the holiday season and prepare for the coming year.
“This has become a national coalition of people who are paying attention and who are ready to engage,” Smith said. “For many, this is personal. They’re thinking about health, recovery and family as the new year begins, and they’re not willing to see those gains undone.”
Jackie Subeck, Executive Director of the 7-HOPE Alliance said the focus heading into the new year will be on sustaining that momentum and ensuring that consumer voices remain part of the policy discussion.
“This coalition is organized, informed, and growing,” Subeck said. “People are standing up for science-based regulation and making it clear that prohibition is not an acceptable path forward.”
About Holistic Alternative Recovery Trust (HART)
The Holistic Alternative Recovery Trust (HART) is a national nonprofit dedicated to promoting evidence-based, transparent policy around natural recovery compounds. HART supports responsible regulation that protects consumers while encouraging innovation in safe, science-driven alternatives to traditional pharmaceuticals. Learn more at hartsupporter.com.
About 7-HOPE Alliance
7-HOPE Alliance (7-Hydroxy Outreach for Public Education) is a nonprofit organization (501(c)(3) pending) dedicated to advancing public education, user support, and policy advocacy around 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OHM), a naturally occurring alkaloid in the kratom plant. Through a foundation of science, storytelling, and community, 7-HOPE empowers individuals, healthcare professionals, and policymakers with accurate, balanced information on 7-OHM and its role in harm reduction, natural wellness, and safe, legal access to alternatives. The organization’s mission centers on four pillars: science, education, advocacy, and user support. By confronting misinformation, promoting responsible use, and providing uplifting real-life testimonials, 7-HOPE aims to ensure 7-OHM remains available to the many individuals who find it to be a safe and effective alternative to dangerous painkillers and illegal drugs. For more information or to get involved, visit www.7hopealliance.org.
Media Contact
HART Media
media@hartsupporter.com
7-HOPE Alliance
media@7hopealliance.org
