
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. hails from the most Democratic family in American history, but he chose to back Donald Trump during the 2025 United States presidential election. After Trump won, he paid Kennedy Jr. back for his support by nominating him to become the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services.
The nomination did not come without controversy. Many of Kennedy’s ideas have been criticized by leading doctors and scientists. During his confirmation period, 75 Nobel laureates penned a letter calling him a danger to American health. Nevertheless, he was confirmed in his post.
Kennedy Jr. Has Wasted No Time In Putting His Mark On His Department

One of Kennedy Jr.’s first moves has been to go on the attack against vaccines. While his opinions on vaccines are primarily considered by the medical community to be conspiracy theories, he has already fired many of the people in the government who oppose him.
And while Kennedy Jr. has only been in office for a few months, there has already been a concerning health crisis in the Southwestern United States. Texas is undergoing a measles outbreak due to unvaccinated citizens. Measles was originally eradicated in the year 2000, but has now returned.
Almost Half The States In The Country Have Legalized Marijuana

The opinions on marijuana have largely changed in the country, and today, 24 out of 50 U.S. states have legalized recreational marijuana. These shops create incredible tax revenue for their states, topping $4.4 billion in 2024 alone.
Medical marijuana dispensaries are even more common than recreational ones. 40 out of 50 states, an even 80%, offer medical marijuana to their citizens. It is a huge industry, and there are plenty of companies that want a piece of it.
Knock-Off Drugs Are Commonly Sold at Gas Stations and Convenience Stores

It is a very common sight in convenience and gas station stores to see a wall lined with products meant to look like marijuana sold in legal dispensaries. Many of these drugs are advertised as 7-OH, a byproduct of kratom.
These drugs purport to provide all kinds of different effects similar to opioids or marijuana. And they do so legally and without any kind of oversight from the federal government or from the FDA. Officials are concerned that these drugs could end up making people sick.
The FDA Is Calling on 7-OH to Become Classified

The Food and Drug Administration is calling on the Justice Department to label 7-OH as a Schedule I substance. A drug that is classified as a Schedule I substance has no therapeutic value and has a high potential for abuse.
This sort of classification would put 7-OH on par with drugs like heroin and ecstasy. It would prohibit the sale of the drug in gas stations and convenience stores. It would also notify the public that these drugs being sold are potentially very dangerous.
The Drug Was Nearly Made a Schedule I Substance Years Ago

Back in 2016, the Drug Enforcement Administration said it had intended to make 7-OH a Schedule I substance. The agency even put out a press release stating its intentions and noting that it found the substance to be an imminent hazard to public health.
Despite these strong words, 7-OH never got that designation. The FDA changes its stance on the drug not because it was discovered to be non-harmful, but because the lobby behind kratom has lobbied them so aggressively. The drug hit the stores and ended up in the hands of young people.
RFK Jr, Made a Statement on the Request

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was addicted to heroin for more than 15 years. He talked about that addiction while talking about 7-OH. According to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the availability of heroin fueled his addiction.
In a statement, Kennedy Jr. talked about the dangers of how 7-OH products are packaged and promoted, “[They’re] marketed for children. They’re gummy bears, they’re bright colors, they’re candy flavored. This is really a sinister, sinister industry.”
The Side Effects of 7-OH Can Be Severe

Not only does the Food and Drug Administration say that 7-OH doesn’t have any kind of therapeutic benefit, but they also say that it has extreme side effects.
The FDA claims that these drugs are made to be especially addictive in order to trap people into addiction. In addition to the threat of substance use disorder, the drugs have also been linked to liver and heart problems, along with the potential to trigger seizures in people.
The Packaging Makes the Drug Seem Different From What it Is

The packaging of many 7-OH products makes it seem like they would have a similar effect to marijuana. As such, it comes in forms similar to products that people could purchase at marijuana dispensaries. Many can be taken in gummy or candy form.
The issue that many people encounter is that the reaction they have to the drug can seem more like that of an opioid than marijuana. The FDA says that they have seen a large rise in cases of people going to the emergency room after ingesting 7-OH products.
Conclusion

Since Kennedy Jr. has been in office, many of the things he’s done have been seen as political. But when it comes to regulating the sale of 7-OH, it should not be all that hard for the embattled HHS head to get some other lawmakers on his side.
The fact is that rational doctors agree that this drug doesn’t really provide any benefit to consumers, and could potentially really affect their health in the future. If it is declared to be a Schedule I substance, that is the obvious thing that should have happened, but it would also be an early win for Kennedy Jr.