Kratom in Pennsylvania - Lawmakers’ latest concern

Sep. 6—Among legislation Pennsylvania lawmakers will consider when they return to Harrisburg for voting sessions after an absence of more than two months is regulation of a plant-based substance that can produce opioid- and stimulant-like effects.

Although kratom and kratom-based products are legal and accessible in many areas throughout the U.S., including Pennsylvania, the Food and Drug Administration and other federal agencies continue to review emerging evidence to inform kratom policy, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Kratom is derived from leaves of a tree native to Southeast Asia and has become popular for various uses, including as a coffee-like stimulant and to fight pain and anxiety. Among the unapproved uses is for treatment of addiction; it's believed that many of those who buy kratom are using it as a natural alternative to the prescription drug suboxone, which treats symptoms of withdrawal from opioids such as pain pills and heroin.

Kratom is not listed by the federal government as a controlled substance.

Mac Haddow, senior fellow on public policy for the American Kratom Association, said the number of people using it in the U.S. likely has surpassed 15 million.

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Use of kratom has been banned in six states, though Haddow said all six bans were put in place before 2017 with FDA information that was outdated.

Another eight states have adopted provisions similar to the Kratom Consumer Protection Act championed by the association. The legislation is designed to protect consumers through processing and labeling regulations, he said.

The FDA website warns kratom appears to have properties that increase risks of addiction, abuse and dependence.

The Pennsylvania House in late June passed a bill that would ban the sale of kratom to minors, but only after provisions about manufacturing and production were stripped out and the age for legal purchase was lowered to 18 years old from 21 years old.

Haddow said while his group supports banning sale to minors, the provisions removed by amendment were necessary to keep all consumers safe. Supporters of the amendment argued most of the regulations struck from the bill were already in place.

"They are essential to really protecting consumers," Haddow said of the series of safety measures. "We have to protect people against dangerous, adulterated products."

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