Morning Wire — "The Opioid-Like Drug Sold At Gas Stations"

Date: April 11, 2026
Hosts: John Bickley, Georgia Howe
Guest: Regan Conrad (Daily Wire investigative reporter, host of new investigative show)

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the alarming rise and underregulation of Kratom and its derivatives, substances with opiate-like effects that are widely available at gas stations and smoke shops across the U.S. Georgia Howe and John Bickley interview Daily Wire’s Regan Conrad about her debut investigative series, focusing first on Kratom, its synthetic cousin "7oh," their dangers, legality, and how regulators are scrambling to catch up.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to the Investigative Series

• Regan Conrad’s New Show:
  • Format: Flexible channel (long-form interviews, video essays, mini docs).
    • “Every different story deserves its own kind of way to tell it.” (Regan Conrad, 03:48)
  • Purpose: “Build bridges through honest conversations…grounded in truth.” (Regan Conrad, 02:53)

2. Kratom and 7oh: What Are They?

• Origin and Spread:
  • Kratom is a leaf native to Southeast Asia, now sold in U.S. gas stations and smoke shops.
  • 7oh refers to "7-hydroxymitragynine," a more potent, synthetic derivative of Kratom.
• Use and Effects:
  • Initial purposes often include chronic pain relief, but addictive properties are strong.
  • Both “act like opioids,” causing withdrawal symptoms and dependence—users unaware of risks.
    • “Both of them act like opioids, which is the biggest thing I think people should be aware of.” (Regan Conrad, 05:19)
• Packaging & Accessibility:
  • Kratom is often marketed as a harmless “natural supplement,” resembling energy shots.
    • “It looks like a five hour energy…people think, oh, it’s totally fine.” (Regan Conrad, 07:21)

3. Legal Gray Areas & Regulatory Response

• Legal Status:
  • Kratom and especially synthetic 7oh are in regulatory limbo.
  • Some states are banning or drafting bans:
    • “Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Indiana, Louisiana, Vermont, Wisconsin…” (Regan Conrad, 09:55)
    • Rhode Island’s ban recently expired but efforts to renew are ongoing.
  • Age restrictions minimal or nonexistent—teens can buy at convenience stores.
• Lag in Legislation:
  • Lawmakers are rushing to address harms exposed well after the substances’ popularity soared.
    • Comparison to opioid crisis legislative delays.
      • “Part of the reason why opioids became the problem…legislation lagged so far behind the harm.” (Georgia Howe, 09:42)

4. Risks and Community Impact

• Addiction and Withdrawal:
  • Users, including high schoolers, report severe withdrawal.
  • Some gas station clerks note repeat customers buying “11 times a day.”
    • “That’s not normal. And it’s not good.” (Regan Conrad, 07:44)
• Deaths and Misconceptions:
  • Emerging evidence that Kratom appears on death certificates—direct causation remains debated.
  • Synthetic 7oh more definitively linked to fatalities.
• Uninformed Use:
  • Most users unaware it’s a drug, confusing it for legal, safe supplements.
    • “People do not know that for this product.” (Regan Conrad, 09:16)
  • Calls for at least “bare minimum” awareness and clear labeling.

5. The Investigative Process

• Hands-on Journalism:
  • Regan and team purchased various forms of Kratom/7oh for research.
  • Declines to sample herself:
    • “I have these drugs in my office I gotta now throw out. But no, I didn’t try it.” (Regan Conrad, 08:09)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Kratom’s Emergence:
  • “It’s sort of like it’s lived in a gray area or kind of in the dark for a while. And now people are starting to be like, hey, this is a huge problem.” (Regan Conrad, 03:48)
• On Synthetic Derivatives:
  • “Chemists have gotten involved and they’re kind of catering this thing to create a new drug.” (Regan Conrad, 05:19)
• On Youth Access:
  • “This is stuff that they are picking up at a 7 11. No ID required, correct?” (Georgia Howe, 07:11)
  • “No, no. I mean a lot of it’s being sold as like a natural herbal supplement…” (Regan Conrad, 07:21)
• On the Prevalence in Stores:
  • “Now when you drive past the smoke shop, you’ll see Kratom, which I didn’t even…know what it was. It’s sort of like the way marijuana just suddenly popped up and now it’s everywhere.” (Regan Conrad, 06:45)
• On Dangers and Warnings:
  • “People should know what they’re taking, and they should, just as any other drug…People do not know that for this product.” (Regan Conrad, 09:16)
• On Real World Observations:
  • “People kept saying…I have a lot of people coming in for this, like, 11 times a day. That’s not normal.” (Regan Conrad, 07:44)
• On Policy Response:
  • “Even as of the recording…a lot is happening with this [state-level bans].” (Regan Conrad, 09:55)

Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment/Event | |-------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:17 | Introduction of Regan Conrad & her new investigative series | | 03:48-05:19 | Discussion of Kratom, 7oh, and their origins and effects | | 05:19-06:41 | Addictive properties, legal status, difference between Kratom and 7oh | | 06:41-07:44 | Accessibility, how products are marketed and sold | | 07:42-08:09 | Affordability, prevalence, and reporting by gas station clerks | | 08:19-09:11 | Deaths, risks, and medical reporting of Kratom-related fatalities | | 09:50-10:19 | Pending and active legislation—states banning Kratom/7oh |

Closing: Teaser for Next Episode

• Next Topic: Regan’s second episode covers the documentary “The Death of Recess,” an undercover look at issues in American public education, touching on corruption and ideological bias within the NEA.
• Schedule:
  • Main episodes every Saturday, shorter segments midweek on the Regan Conrad YouTube channel.

Summary Tone & Takeaway

The discussion is urgent yet grounded, emphasizing the rapid spread of a little-known substance with profound risks, the dangers of legislative inertia, and the critical need for public awareness. Conrad’s reporting style is open and firsthand; the hosts maintain a conversational, informative approach aiming to alert listeners to emerging cultural and regulatory issues.

For more details and follow-up reporting, visit the Regan Conrad YouTube channel or listen to future Morning Wire episodes.