The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) has issued an emergency rule adding three substances related to 7-hydroxymitragynine and mitragynine to Schedule I of Louisiana’s controlled dangerous substances list.
LDH Secretary Bruce D. Greenstein determined that placing the substances on Schedule I by emergency rule was necessary to avoid an imminent peril to the public health, safety, or welfare. Preclinical evidence indicates the substances are potent mu-opioid receptor agonists that carry risks associated with other opioid agonists, including dependence and respiratory depression.
Louisiana law expressly allows the Secretary to use an emergency rule when placement of a substance in Schedule I is necessary to avoid an imminent threat to public health, safety, or welfare.
Schedule I substances are those determined to have a high potential for abuse, no currently accepted medical use for treatment in the U.S., and a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.
The emergency rule will remain in effect for the maximum period allowed by law or until a final rule is adopted, whichever occurs first.