DEA Temporarily Schedules Pseudoindoxyl, MGM‑15, and MGM‑16

DEA published the temporary scheduling order in the Federal Register at 91 FR 54948 under Docket No. DEA-1644. The order follows DEA's July 6 notice of intent and takes effect on publication.

What the order covers

The order adds three 7-hydroxymitragynine-related substances to Schedule I:

• Mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, also described by the Department of Justice as MGPI
• MGM-15, also known as dihydro-7-hydroxymitragynine
• MGM-16, also known as 9-fluoro-dihydro-7-hydroxymitragynine or, depending on the numbering convention, 10-fluoro-dihydro-7-hydroxymitragynine

The listed controls also extend to covered isomers, esters, ethers, salts, and salts of isomers, esters, and ethers when those forms are possible. The precise chemical descriptions in the Federal Register order control; a product name alone is not a substitute for compound identification.

Federal handling requirements now apply

Beginning August 26, Schedule I controls and the associated administrative, civil, and criminal sanctions apply to covered manufacture, distribution, reverse distribution, import, export, possession, research, instructional activities, and chemical analysis. The order states that retail sale to the general public is not allowed and that possession not authorized by the Controlled Substances Act is unlawful.

Laboratories, manufacturers, distributors, importers, exporters, researchers, and other handlers should review the order's registration, security, inventory, recordkeeping, reporting, order-form, import/export, quota, and disposal provisions. The order provides 30-day transition periods for certain labeling, inventory, and recordkeeping obligations of current DEA registrants, and a separate pathway for qualifying researchers already registered to conduct Schedule I research. Those provisions are fact-specific and should be reviewed directly rather than inferred from this summary.

DOJ's statement about botanical kratom and incidental trace MGPI

In an August 25 announcement, the Department of Justice described the action as directed at deliberately manufactured and concentrated opioid products rather than traditional botanical kratom. DOJ also announced enforcement discretion where only incidental trace amounts of MGPI are confirmed in a product otherwise consistent with botanical kratom.

DOJ expressly states that this enforcement policy is not a legal exemption and does not change MGPI's Schedule I status. It does not apply to MGM-15, MGM-16, or products containing manufactured, concentrated, fortified, or intentionally added MGPI.

Planning analytical work

Cora Science's Kratom Adulterants panel includes mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, MGM-15, and MGM-16 among its six quantitative targets. Inclusion in an analytical panel does not determine whether a sample may be lawfully shipped, received, possessed, or tested after the order's effective date.

If a project may involve any of these three substances, contact the laboratory before shipping a sample. Share the exact product and matrix, target compounds, purpose of testing, and relevant jurisdiction so that analytical availability, sample acceptance, and handling requirements can be reviewed for the specific project.

Official sources

• Federal Register: Temporary scheduling order, 91 FR 54948 (August 26, 2026)
• Department of Justice: Emergency scheduling announcement and enforcement policy
• Federal Register: Separate July 6 notice of intent concerning 7-OH above a specified threshold