ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — A proposal to ban the sale of a powerful synthetic compound derived from the kratom plant is under consideration at the Rockford City Council this week, as officials warned of its opioid-like effects and growing presence in local shops.
The substance, known as 7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH, is marketed under names like Cloud 7, Plant-Based Euphoria, and Mood Drops. It is sold in tablets, gummies, drink mixes and flavored shots, often in vape and tobacco shops. Federal regulators say the compound can be more potent than morphine and carries a high risk of addiction and overdose.
“This is a plant product purified out of a plant, and it has some pretty potent opioid-type reactions,” said Alderman Tim Durkee (D-1st Ward), who is leading the initiative. “There’s some false comments out there: you can overdose on it. You can.”…