Last month, the Tangipahoa Parish Council voted to ban the sale of the herb kratom, a move that we have seen across the country. It’s the latest example of local officials wrestling with a health care issue that they should not have to address.
It’s time for the federal government to take action.
Other parishes, including Ascension and LaSalle as well as some cities and other states have also enacted bans. At the same time, in Rhode Island, the legislature voted to legalize kratom, though the governor vetoed the bill.
These conflicting moves highlight the confusion surrounding kratom, which is rapidly growing in popularity. The global market is estimated at nearly $2 billion and is projected to reach nearly $6 billion by 2030, according to Maximize Market Research.
Kratom is a plant native to southeast Asia. Some people use it for pain relief or stimulant effects. But in high doses, it can cause problems including, in some cases, psychotic symptoms. Some users have reported developing dependency.
In December, a report from the Louisiana Department of Health studied kratom.
“People report using kratom products to alleviate drug withdrawal symptoms and cravings (particularly for opioids), to alleviate pain and to help manage mental health problems,” the report said.
The report also noted that there have been reports of rare side effects, "including psychiatric, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and respiratory problems. Compared to deaths from other drugs, a very small number of deaths have been linked to kratom products and nearly all cases involved other drugs or contaminants.”
Kratom's use and regulation is a complex issue that calls for expertise from scientists who understand the myriad issues and body chemistry involved.
Ryan Niddel
There's a way to solve this problem through enhanced federal regulations. Over the last few years, I have made it my business — literally — to understand the ins and outs of kratom science, manufacturing and consumption. I became part of a company that sells kratom products, and am now the CEO. I want to make sure that people have access to the benefits of this natural substance, which people in Asia have used for centuries while also having all the information they need to avoid potential dangers of misuse or overuse.
If the Food and Drug Administration were to classify kratom as a supplement, it could institute a set of national rules. These regulations would help to protect consumers while still allowing people to make educated choices. States should strictly limit kratom sales to people age 21 and over. Standard serving sizes and transparent labeling would remove the guesswork and improve safety for novice and experienced consumers alike.
The pressing need for regulation became even clearer in recent weeks. The FDA issued a warning against consuming a specific product and noted that it generally warns against kratom because of the risks. Meanwhile, experts from Johns Hopkins, the University of Florida and Thomas Jefferson University published a study that cited the benefits of kratom and advocating for a standard set of rules from the FDA.
Where I work, we have taken our own steps to revolutionize labeling so that consumers are given important information about the product, its origins and its potential pitfalls as well as how and where it is manufactured. Actions like these should be required across the industry. The website kratomresearchinstitute.org, which I support, is designed to empower consumers with information.
Local officials have enough else to focus on without having to wade into the intricacies of kratom. We should let the FDA do its job.