Florida AG announces ban on "7-OH" products

• The state ban follows the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's recommendation in July to do so nationwide.

Catch up quick: When federal health regulators announced plans to control the compound found in the kratom plant, they made one big distinction: They're "not targeting the kratom leaf or ground up kratom."

• Uthmeier's ban, likewise, focuses squarely on 7-OH products.
• That's important for Tampa Bay, which is known as the kava capital of the U.S.

Between the lines: "Kratom" can refer to the plant or powdered leaf — or kratom-derived concentrates in forms like tablets, gummies, drink mixes and shots that are available online and in some smoke shops and gas stations.

• It's been marketed as a mood booster, pain reliever and remedy for symptoms of quitting opioids, but that doesn't mean all kratom products are "natural and safe," according to the Mayo Clinic.

What they're saying: "I'm glad to see Florida's local leaders fighting back," FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said in a statement.

• "I encourage other states to act now and use common sense regulation to safeguard the well-being of our youth and Make America Healthy Again."