# 2026-12654: DEA Temporarily Bans New Tramadol Variant

2026-12654, Schedules of Controlled Substances: Temporary Placement of O-Desmethyltramadol in Schedule I, is a Federal Register rule from Justice Department, Drug Enforcement Administration published 2026-06-24, effective 2026-07-24; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-07-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12654
- As of: 2026-07-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-12654
- Title: Schedules of Controlled Substances: Temporary Placement of O-Desmethyltramadol in Schedule I
- Type: Rule
- Agencies: Justice Department; Drug Enforcement Administration
- Citation: 91 FR 37822
- Published: 2026-06-24
- Effective: 2026-07-24
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-07-01

## In one line

DEA Temporarily Bans New Tramadol Variant

## Summary

Starting July 24, 2026, O-desmethyltramadol (also called O-DSMT) will be temporarily placed in Schedule I, meaning it’s treated like the most tightly controlled drugs. This affects anyone who makes, sells, studies, or even just possesses it, bringing strict rules and penalties. The move aims to keep people safe while the government studies the drug more closely.

## Abstract

The Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration is issuing this notice of intent to publish a temporary order to schedule O-desmethyltramadol (other names: O-DSMT; desmetramadol; 3-[(1R,2R)-2- [(dimethylamino)methyl]-1-hydroxycyclohexyl]phenol), including its isomers, esters, ethers, salts, and salts of isomers, esters and ethers, in schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. When it is issued, the temporary scheduling order will impose the regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal sanctions applicable to schedule I controlled substances on persons who handle (manufacture, distribute, reverse distribute, import, export, engage in research, conduct instructional activities or chemical analysis with, or possess) or propose to handle O-DSMT.

## Effects PRIA read

- O-DSMT Temporarily Placed in Schedule I: cost, medium. O-Desmethyltramadol (O-DSMT) will be temporarily listed in Schedule I when DEA publishes the temporary order in the Federal Register (the order will not be issued before July 24, 2026). The temporary listing will remain in effect for two years from publication and can be extended for one additional…
- Legal Controls and Penalties for Handlers: cost, high. Once the temporary order is published, anyone who manufactures, distributes, reverse distributes, imports, exports, researches, conducts instructional activities or chemical analysis with, or possesses O-DSMT will be subject to the regulatory controls and the administrative, civil, and criminal san…

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## Sources
- [2026-12654 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/06/24/2026-12654/schedules-of-controlled-substances-temporary-placement-of-o-desmethyltramadol-in-schedule-i)
- [2026-12654 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-06-24/pdf/2026-12654.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-12653, Schedules of Controlled Substances: Placement of Bromazolam in Schedule I; Corr…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12653)
- [Next: 2026-12669, Indefinite Suspension of the De Minimis Exemption for Mail Shipments and New Po…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12669)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12654 (as of 2026-07-01).