The Trump administration is reviewing draft recommendations aimed at promoting young people’s health—including proposals to increase awareness about the impact of THC, vapes and the kratom-derived compound known as 7-OH.
This leaked document seems to respond to the executive order signed by President Donald Trump in February, establishing “Make America Healthy Again Commission” under Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
One of the many recommendations in the report is for the U.S. Surgeon General to “launch a education and awareness campaign on the effects that alcohol, THC, THC vaping and controlled substances have on children’s wellbeing.”
The letter also urges the Food and Drug Administration and Make America Healthy Again Commission, to enforce the law on unapproved Chinese vaping products and inform parents and business owners that this Administration will not tolerate the continued flooding of our country with vaping products targeted towards children.
The bill also addresses a timely issue related kratom by requiring FDA “to educate the public about the dangers associated with synthetic opioids such as 7OH (which differs from natural kratom), and to coordinate enforcement actions against illegal products that are being marketed towards American children.”
FDA has recommended that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) schedule the compound under the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA)—drawing criticism from kratom stakeholders who oppose the outright ban.
HHS has yet to finalize the draft report, which was a result of coordination with other agencies. The New York Times obtained the “Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy.” document from an ex-administration official. They reported it would be delivered to Trump this week, ahead of a crucial deadline.
This comes as the administration and Congress are looking at other key cannabis proposals, including the Biden administration-initiated plan to move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the CSA.
This process was stalled months ago, but President Obama recently announced that the decision would come within weeks. The MAGA movement has expressed mixed feelings about this reform. It would not legallyize marijuana, but it would allow state-licensed cannabis businesses to take advantage of federal tax deductions.
The focus of lawmakers has also been on THC policies related to hemp. Hemp was legalized federally during Trump’s initial term, under the 2018 Farm Bill. After being dropped from the Senate’s agriculture bill, a controversial proposal is being discussed to ban all hemp products that contain any “quantifiable amount” of THC.
For his part, Kennedy—who serves as chairman of the Make America Healthy Again Commission under the president’s executive order—was vocal about his support for marijuana legalization when he was running for president as a Democratic and then an independent, as well as during his time on the Trump transition team. He’s become more reticent on this issue after being confirmed.
During an interview in February, however, he said: “I hear stories all the time of the impacts of marijuana on people—and the really catastrophic impacts on them.”
Brian Shamblen is the photographer.