Regulating kratom is back in the mix this legislative session.
Kratom is a type of tree native to southeast Asia. Its leaves are smoked or brewed as a tea to access its psychoactive properties that, depending on the dosage, can lead to stimulative or sedative effects.
It also can be addictive and is not approved for any medical use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Kratom is not listed as a controlled substance by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; it’s regarded as a “Drug and Chemical of Concern.”
State lawmakers have tried in the past to control the ingredients of kratom, and at times sought to limit the age at which a person can purchase it, but nothing has stuck. Sarasota County and some states have banned the substance.
Sarasota Republican state Sen. Joe Gruters is trying again to push a bill that would limit the sale of kratom to people 21 and older, as well as establishing rules about labeling and the contents of kratom products. Pensacola Republican state Rep. Robert Alexander Andrade has filed a companion bill.
~ Herald-Tribune
