Is 9-OH (9-hydroxycorynantheidine) Legal in Alabama? (2026)

Gray area

As of November 12, 2026, 9-OH (9-hydroxycorynantheidine) is in a legal gray area (sold in practice, exposed to an interpretive ban theory) in Alabama. Not named; Schedule I lists mitragynine and hydroxymitragynine, and the analogue clause (Ala. Code 20-2-23(5)) may reach 9-OH. Controlling source: Ala. Code 20-2-23 (Schedule I; subdivision (4)a items 322-323; subdivision (5) synthetic controlled substance analogue).

Verified November 12, 2026 (hash check) · confidence: under review

Is 9-OH Legal? Every state and federal law

WatchNo pending legislation, deadlines or enforcement actions on file for 9-OH in Alabama.
Rule type
permanent
Tier
Under review

What the record says

Alabama does not name 9-OH (9-hydroxycorynantheidine, 9-O-demethylmitragynine) in Ala. Code 20-2-23 or in the State Board of Health Controlled Substances List (Ala. Admin. Code r. 420-7-2-A, amended through its Oct. 15, 2026 effective date). Section 20-2-23(4)a lists Mitragynine (item 322) and Hydroxymitragynine (item 323) as synthetic controlled substances in Schedule I, reaching any material, mixture or preparation that contains any quantity of them, their salts, isomers and salts of isomers. 9-OH is not a salt, isomer or hydroxy derivative of either listed compound (it carries one fewer carbon than mitragynine), so those entries do not reach it by their own terms. The remaining route is subdivision (5): a synthetic controlled substance analogue is a material whose chemical structure is chemically similar to that of a Schedule I or II substance, or that has a central nervous system depressant effect similar to or greater than one, and (5)c treats it as a Schedule I substance. 9-OH differs from Schedule I mitragynine by a single methyl group, so the structural prong is a strong argument, but no court ruling or Department of Forensic Sciences determination applying it to 9-OH was found, so reach is interpretive. Trace content is a separate and express exposure: a semi-synthetic 9-OH tablet or liquid made from mitragynine that retains any detectable mitragynine or hydroxymitragynine is material containing a listed Schedule I substance under (4)a. On March 24, 2026 the Attorney General sent retailers a cease and desist letter treating any product containing mitragynine or hydroxymitragynine as illegal under Section 20-2-23 regardless of labeling. Alabama has no kratom consumer protection act, so there are no age, label or registration conditions. Section 20-2-20(c) adopts a federal designation 30 days after a final federal order unless the Board objects; 9-OH has no federal designation, so that route does not capture it today. 9-OH is not federally scheduled; federal Analogue Act and FDA exposure are interpretive.

Controlling language, verbatim

(4)a. A synthetic controlled substance that is any material, mixture, or preparation that contains any quantity of the following chemical compounds, their salts, isomers and salts of isomers, unless specifically excepted, whenever the existence of these salts, isomers and salts of isomers is possible within the specific chemical designation or compound: ... 322. Mitragynine. ... 323. Hydroxymitragynine. ... (5)a. A synthetic controlled substance analogue, being a material, mixture, or preparation that contains any chemical structure of which is chemically similar to the chemical structure of any other controlled substance in Schedule I or Schedule II or that satisfies any one of the following: ... 1. Has a stimulant, depressant, or hallucinogenic effect on the central nervous system that mimics or is similar to or greater than the stimulant, depressant, or hallucinogenic effect on the central nervous system of a controlled substance in Schedule I or Schedule II. ... c. A controlled substance analogue is treated as a controlled substance in Schedule I.

Source of excerpt

Citations

  1. Ala. Code 20-2-23 (Schedule I; subdivision (4)a items 322-323; subdivision (5) synthetic controlled substance analogue) (Alabama Legislative Services Agency (ALISON), 2026-11-08) PRIMARYOFFICIAL
  2. Ala. Admin. Code r. 420-7-2-A, Controlled Substances List (amended through Oct. 15, 2026) (Alabama State Board of Health / Legislative Services Agency, 2026-11-08)OFFICIAL
  3. Alabama Attorney General cease and desist letter on mitragynine and hydroxymitragynine products (March 24, 2026) (Office of the Alabama Attorney General, 2026-11-08)OFFICIAL

Where 9-OH (9-hydroxycorynantheidine) stands across the country

LegalRestrictedGray areaIllegalNot yet verified

Among Alabama's 4 neighbors, Tennessee is illegal; Florida is restricted; Georgia and Mississippi are gray area.

Open the interactive map · Every compound in Alabama · Where 9-OH is banned · Embed this map

Federal posture

Not federally scheduled. Not federally scheduled: absent from 21 CFR 1308.11 and every DEA kratom-alkaloid order and notice; Analogue Act exposure is interpretive Federal detail

Verbatim law on file for Alabama

3 instruments on file for this compound’s framework in Alabama; 3 of 3 citations above are official sources. Each text carries its source and a fingerprint that changes when the law does.

Ala. Code 20-2-20; Ala. Code 20-2-23(b)(4)a, items 322-323, and (b)(5) · Administration of chapter; Schedule I listing (mitragynine, hydroxymitragynine) and synthetic controlled substance analogueOFFICIAL
Instrument
Administration of chapter; Schedule I listing (mitragynine, hydroxymitragynine) and synthetic controlled substance analogue
Source
https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/graphql?query=query%7BcodesOfAlabama%28where%3A%7Btype%3A%7Beq%3ASection%7D%2CdisplayId%3A%7Bin%3A%5B%2220-2-20%22%2C%2220-2-23%22%5D%7D%7D%29%7Bdata%7BdisplayId%20title%20content%20history%7D%7D%7D
Retrieved
2026-10-29
Fingerprint
9139a9fd525c7f36
(a) The State Board of Health, unless otherwise specified, shall administer this chapter and may add substances to or delete or reschedule all substances enumerated in the schedules in Sections 20-2-23, 20-2-25, 20-2-27, 20-2-29, or 20-2-31 pursuant to the procedures of the State Board of Health. In making a determination regarding a substance, the State Board of Health shall consider all of the following:
(1) The actual or relative potential for abuse.
(2) The scientific evidence of its pharmacological effect, if known.
(3) The state of current scientific knowledge regarding the substance.
(4) The history and current pattern of abuse.
(5) The scope, duration, and significance of abuse.
(6) The risk to the public health.
(7) The potential of the substance to produce psychic or physiological dependence liability.
(8) Whether the substance is an immediate precursor of a substance already controlled under this chapter.
(b) After considering the factors enumerated in subsection (a), the State Board of Health shall make findings with respect thereto and issue a rule controlling the substance if it finds the substance has a potential for abuse.
(c) If any substance is designated, rescheduled, or deleted as a controlled substance under federal law and notice thereof is given to the State Board of Health, the State Board of Health shall similarly control the substance under this chapter after the expiration of 30 days from publication in the federal register of a final order designating a substance as a controlled substance or rescheduling or deleting a substance, unless within that 30-day period, the State Board of Health objects to inclusion, rescheduling, or deletion. In that case, the State Board of Health shall publish the reasons for objection and afford all interested parties an opportunity to be heard. At the conclusion of the hearing, the State Board of Health shall publish its decision, which shall be final unless altered by statute. Upon publication of objection to inclusion, rescheduling, or deletion under this chapter by the State Board of Health, control under this chapter is stayed until the State Board of Health publishes its decision.
(d) Authority to control under this section does not extend to distilled spirits, wine, malt beverages, or tobacco.
(e) The State Board of Health shall exclude any nonnarcotic substance from a schedule if such substance, under the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, the federal Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970, and the law of this state may be lawfully sold over the counter without a prescription.

(4)a. A synthetic controlled substance that is any material, mixture, or preparation that contains any quantity of the following chemical compounds, their salts, isomers and salts of isomers, unless specifically excepted, whenever the existence of these salts, isomers and salts of isomers is possible within the specific chemical designation or compound:

322. Mitragynine.
323. Hydroxymitragynine.

(5)a. A synthetic controlled substance analogue, being a material, mixture, or preparation that contains any chemical structure of which is chemically similar to the chemical structure of any other controlled substance in Schedule I or Schedule II or that satisfies any one of the following:
1. Has a stimulant, depressant, or hallucinogenic effect on the central nervous system that mimics or is similar to or greater than the stimulant, depressant, or hallucinogenic effect on the central nervous system of a controlled substance in Schedule I or Schedule II.
2. With respect to a particular person, if the person represents or intends that the substance have a stimulant, depressant, or hallucinogenic effect on the central nervous system that is substantially similar to or greater than the stimulant, depressant, or hallucinogenic effect on the central nervous system of a controlled substance in Schedule I or Schedule II and the substance is actually capable of producing a stimulant, depressant, or hallucinogenic effect on the central nervous system that mimics, is similar to, or is greater than the stimulant, depressant, or hallucinogenic effect on the central nervous system of a controlled substance in Schedule I or Schedule II.
3. Has been demonstrated to have binding activity at one or more cannabinoid receptors.
4. Is capable of exhibiting cannabinoid-like activity.
5. Any compound structurally analogous to, mimicking, or derived from 3-(1-naphthoyl)indole or 1H-indol-3-yl-(1-naphthyl)methane by substitution at the nitrogen atom of the indole ring by alkyl, alkyl halide, aryl halide, alkyl aryl halide, alkenyl, aliphatic alcohol, cycloalkylmethyl, cycloalkylethyl, (N-alkylpiperidin-2-yl)methyl, (tetrahydropyran-4-yl)methyl, or 2-(4-morpholinyl)ethyl whether or not further substituted in the indole ring to any extent, whether or not substituted in the naphthyl ring to any extent.
6. Any compound structurally analogous to, mimicking, or derived from 3-(1-naphthoyl)pyrrole by substitution at the nitrogen atom of the pyrrole ring by alkyl, alkyl halide, aryl halide, alkyl aryl halide, alkenyl, aliphatic alcohol, cycloalkylmethyl, cycloalkylethyl, (N-alkylpiperidin-2-yl)methyl, (tetrahydropyran-4-yl)methyl, or 2-(4-morpholinyl)ethyl, whether or not further substituted in the pyrrole ring to any extent, whether or not substituted in the naphthyl ring to any extent.
7. Any compound structurally analogous to, mimicking, or derived from 1-(1-naphthylmethyl)indene by substitution at the 3-position of the indene ring by alkyl, alkyl halide, aryl halide, alkyl aryl halide, alkenyl, aliphatic alcohol, cycloalkylmethyl, cycloalkylethyl, (N-alkylpiperidin-2-yl)methyl, (tetrahydropyran-4-yl)methyl, or 2-(4-morpholinyl)ethyl whether or not further substituted in the indene ring to any extent, whether or not substituted in the naphthyl ring to any extent.
8. Any compound structurally analogous to, mimicking, or derived from 3-phenylacetylindole by substitution at the nitrogen atom of the indole ring with alkyl, alkyl halide, aryl halide, alkyl aryl halide, alkenyl, aliphatic alcohol, cycloalkylmethyl, cycloalkylethyl, (N-alkylpiperidin-2-yl)methyl, (tetrahydropyran-4-yl)methyl, or 2-(4-morpholinyl)ethyl, whether or not further substituted in the indole ring to any extent, whether or not substituted in the phenyl ring to any extent.
9. Any compound structurally analogous to, mimicking, or derived from 2-(3-hydroxycyclohexyl)phenol by substitution at the 5-position of the phenolic ring by alkyl, alkyl halide, aryl halide, alkyl aryl halide, alkenyl, aliphatic alcohol, cycloalkylmethyl, cycloalkylethyl, (N-alkylpiperidin-2-yl)methyl, (tetrahydropyran-4-yl)methyl, or 2-(4-morpholinyl)ethyl, whether or not substituted in the cyclohexyl ring to any extent.
10. Any compound structurally analogous to, mimicking, or derived from 3-(2,2,3,3-tetramethylcyclopropoyl)indole or 1H-indol-3-yl-(2,2,3,3-tetramethylcyclopropoyl)methane by substitution at the nitrogen atom of the indole ring by alkyl, alkyl halide, aryl halide, alkyl aryl halide, alkenyl, aliphatic alcohol, cycloalkylmethyl, cycloalkylethyl, (N-alkylpiperidin-2-yl)methyl, (tetrahydropyran-4-yl)methyl, or 2-(4-morpholinyl)ethyl whether or not further substituted in the indole ring to any extent.
11. Any compound structurally analogous to, mimicking, or derived from 3-(adamant-1-oyl)indole or 1H-indol-3-yl-(1-adamantyl)methane by substitution at the nitrogen atom of the indole ring by alkyl, alkyl halide, aryl halide, alkyl aryl halide, alkenyl, aliphatic alcohol, cycloalkylmethyl, cycloalkylethyl, (N-alkylpiperidin-2-yl)methyl, (tetrahydropyran-4-yl)methyl, or 2-(4-morpholinyl)ethyl whether or not further substituted in the indole ring to any extent.
12. Any compound structurally analogous to, mimicking, or derived from N-(1-naphthalenyl)indole-3-carboxyamide or 1H-indol-(N-naphthyl)-3-carboxamide by substitution at the nitrogen atom of the indole ring by alkyl, alkyl halide, aryl halide, alkyl aryl halide, alkenyl, aliphatic alcohol, cycloalkylmethyl, cycloalkylethyl, (N-alkylpiperidin-2-yl)methyl, (tetrahydropyran-4-yl)methyl, or 2-(4-morpholinyl)ethyl whether or not further substituted in the indole ring to any extent, whether or not substituted in the naphthyl ring to any extent.
13. Any compound structurally analogous to, mimicking, or derived from N-(adamantan-1yl)indole-3-carboxyamide or 1H-indol-3-carboxamide-(1-adamantyl) by substitution at the nitrogen atom of the indole ring by alkyl, alkyl halide, aryl halide, alkyl aryl halide, alkenyl, aliphatic alcohol, cycloalkylmethyl, cycloalkylethyl, (N-alkylpiperidin-2-yl)methyl, (tetrahydropyran-4-yl)methyl, or 2-(4-morpholinyl)ethyl whether or not further substituted in the indole ring to any extent.
14. Any compound structurally analogous to, mimicking, or derived from N-(adamantan-1yl)indazole-3-carboxyamide or 1H-indazole-3-carboxamide-(1-adamantyl) by substitution at the nitrogen atom of the indazole ring by alkyl, alkyl halide, aryl halide, alkyl aryl halide, alkenyl, aliphatic alcohol, cycloalkylmethyl, cycloalkylethyl, (N-alkylpiperidin-2-yl)methyl, (tetrahydropyran-4-yl)methyl, or 2-(4-morpholinyl)ethyl whether or not further substituted in the indazole ring to any extent.
15. Any compound structurally analogous to, mimicking, or derived from N-[(1S)-1-(aminocarbonyl)-2-methylpropoyl]indazole-3-carboxyamide or 1H-indazole-3-carboxamide-N-[(1S)-1-(aminocarbonyl)-2-methylpropoyl] by substitution at the nitrogen atom of the indazole ring by alkyl, alkyl halide, aryl halide, alkyl aryl halide, alkenyl, aliphatic alcohol, cycloalkylmethyl, cycloalkylethyl, (N-alkylpiperidin-2-yl)methyl, (tetrahydropyran-4-yl)methyl, or 2-(4-morpholinyl)ethyl whether or not further substituted in the indazole ring to any extent.
16. Any compound structurally analogous to, mimicking, or derived from 3-(1-naphthoyl)indazole or 1H-indazole-3-yl-(1-naphthyl)methane by substitution at the nitrogen atom of the indazole ring by alkyl, alkyl halide, aryl halide, alkyl aryl halide, alkenyl, aliphatic alcohol, cycloalkylmethyl, cycloalkylethyl, (N-alkylpiperidin-2-yl)methyl, (tetrahydropyran-4-yl)methyl, or 2-(4-morpholinyl)ethyl whether or not further substituted in the indazole ring to any extent, whether or not substituted in the naphthyl ring to any extent.
17. Any compound structurally analogous to, mimicking, or derived from 3-(carboxylic acid 8-quinolinyl ester)indole or 1H-indol-3-carboxylic acid-(8-quinolinyl)ester by substitution at the nitrogen atom of the indole ring by alkyl, alkyl halide, aryl halide, alkyl aryl halide, alkenyl, aliphatic alcohol, cycloalkylmethyl, cycloalkylethyl, (N-alkylpiperidin-2-yl)methyl, (tetrahydropyran-4-yl)methyl, or 2-(4-morpholinyl)ethyl whether or not further substituted in the indole ring to any extent, whether or not substituted in the quinoline ring to any extent.
18. Any compound structurally related to 2-(4-iodo-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl) ethanamine by substitution of the iodo moiety (4 position) with other halides, alkyl, alkyl halides, thioalkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylhalides and/or substitution at the nitrogen atom of the ethanamine with alkyl, alkyl halide, alkenyl, cycloalkylmethyl, cycloalkylethyl, phenyl, benzyl whether or not further substituted in the (either) phenyl ring to any extent.
19. Any compound structurally related to 2,5-dimethoxy-4-chloroamphetamine by substitution of the chloro moiety (4 position) with other halides, alkyl, alkyl halides, thioalkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylhalides and/or substitution at the nitrogen atom with alkyl, alkyl halide, alkenyl, cycloalkylmethyl, cycloalkylethyl, phenyl, benzyl whether or not further substituted in the (either) phenyl ring to any extent.
20. Any compound structurally related to 2-amino-1-phenyl-1-propanone (cathinone) by substitution of the amine with alkyl, alkyl halide, alkenyl, cycloalkylmethyl, cycloalkylethyl, phenyl, benzyl whether or not further substituted in the (either) phenyl ring to any extent.
21. Any compound structurally related to a-pyrrolidinopentiophenone (a-pvp) whether or not further substituted in the phenyl ring to any extent, whether or not further substituted in the pyrrolidine ring to any extent.
b. A synthetic controlled substance or analogue in subdivision (4) or this subdivision does not include any of the following:
1. Any substance for which there is an approved new drug application under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
2. With respect to a particular person, any substance, if an exemption is in effect for investigational use, for that person, as provided by 21 U.S.C. § 355, and the person is registered as a controlled substance researcher as required under section 152.12, subdivision 3, to the extent conduct with respect to the substance is pursuant to the exemption and registration.
c. A controlled substance analogue is treated as a controlled substance in Schedule I.
d. After the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences has determined a substance to be a synthetic controlled substance analogue under this section, the department shall notify the Alabama Department of Public Health with information relevant to scheduling as provided by Section 20-2-20.
Ala. Code 20-2-23(4)a (items 322-323) and (5); Ala. Code 20-2-20(c) · Schedule I: synthetic controlled substances and synthetic controlled substance analogues; federal designationOFFICIAL
Instrument
Schedule I: synthetic controlled substances and synthetic controlled substance analogues; federal designation
Source
https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/graphql?query=query%7BcodesOfAlabama%28where%3A%7Btype%3A%7Beq%3ASection%7D%2CdisplayId%3A%7Bin%3A%5B%2220-2-20%22%2C%2220-2-23%22%5D%7D%7D%29%7Bdata%7BdisplayId%20title%20content%20history%7D%7D%7D
Retrieved
2026-11-08
Fingerprint
965ccd2cb8c6ae22
(4)a. A synthetic controlled substance that is any material, mixture, or preparation that contains any quantity of the following chemical compounds, their salts, isomers and salts of isomers, unless specifically excepted, whenever the existence of these salts, isomers and salts of isomers is possible within the specific chemical designation or compound:

322. Mitragynine.

323. Hydroxymitragynine.

(5)a. A synthetic controlled substance analogue, being a material, mixture, or preparation that contains any chemical structure of which is chemically similar to the chemical structure of any other controlled substance in Schedule I or Schedule II or that satisfies any one of the following:

1. Has a stimulant, depressant, or hallucinogenic effect on the central nervous system that mimics or is similar to or greater than the stimulant, depressant, or hallucinogenic effect on the central nervous system of a controlled substance in Schedule I or Schedule II.

2. With respect to a particular person, if the person represents or intends that the substance have a stimulant, depressant, or hallucinogenic effect on the central nervous system that is substantially similar to or greater than the stimulant, depressant, or hallucinogenic effect on the central nervous system of a controlled substance in Schedule I or Schedule II and the substance is actually capable of producing a stimulant, depressant, or hallucinogenic effect on the central nervous system that mimics, is similar to, or is greater than the stimulant, depressant, or hallucinogenic effect on the central nervous system of a controlled substance in Schedule I or Schedule II.

b. A synthetic controlled substance or analogue in subdivision (4) or this subdivision does not include any of the following:

1. Any substance for which there is an approved new drug application under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

2. With respect to a particular person, any substance, if an exemption is in effect for investigational use, for that person, as provided by 21 U.S.C. § 355, and the person is registered as a controlled substance researcher as required under section 152.12, subdivision 3, to the extent conduct with respect to the substance is pursuant to the exemption and registration.

c. A controlled substance analogue is treated as a controlled substance in Schedule I.

d. After the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences has determined a substance to be a synthetic controlled substance analogue under this section, the department shall notify the Alabama Department of Public Health with information relevant to scheduling as provided by Section 20-2-20.

(c) If any substance is designated, rescheduled, or deleted as a controlled substance under federal law and notice thereof is given to the State Board of Health, the State Board of Health shall similarly control the substance under this chapter after the expiration of 30 days from publication in the federal register of a final order designating a substance as a controlled substance or rescheduling or deleting a substance, unless within that 30-day period, the State Board of Health objects to inclusion, rescheduling, or deletion.
Ala. Code 20-2-23(b)(4) + 20-2-2 · Alabama Schedule I synthetic-controlled-substance chapeau + entries; no statutory definition of "isomer"MIRROR
Instrument
Alabama Schedule I synthetic-controlled-substance chapeau + entries; no statutory definition of "isomer"
Source
https://law.justia.com/codes/alabama/title-20/chapter-2/article-2/section-20-2-23/
Retrieved
2026-07-06
Fingerprint
6f6982541dddb169
Ala. Code Sec. 20-2-23(b): "(b) The controlled substances listed in this section are included in Schedule I:"
Sec. 20-2-23(b)(4)a. (governing chapeau):
"(4)a. A synthetic controlled substance that is any material, mixture, or preparation that contains any quantity of the following chemical compounds, their salts, isomers and salts of isomers, unless specifically excepted, whenever the existence of these salts, isomers and salts of isomers is possible within the specific chemical designation or compound:"
Listed entries:
“322. Mitragynine.”
“323. Hydroxymitragynine.”

Ala. Code Sec. 20-2-2 (Definitions): contains NO standalone definition of "isomer." The word "isomer" is used but never defined and never qualified as optical/positional/geometric.

9-OH (9-hydroxycorynantheidine) in neighboring states

9-OH in 46 other states

Closest to 9-OH in Alabama

36 other compounds in Alabama

Cite this page

Compound Analytics. “Is 9-OH Legal in Alabama? Updated Nov 2026.” Compound Laws, https://compoundlaws.com/compounds/9-oh/alabama/. Accessed November 13, 2026.

Compound Laws, published by Compound Analytics, reports the record: statutes verbatim, official citations, enforcement facts and verification dates. Nothing here is legal advice and nothing here describes how to get around a law. A jurisdiction with no verified row is reported as not yet verified, never as legal. Found an error? Corrections policy.

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