The Iowa House has approved a bill to ban the sale of kratom, a plant-based product that’s being sold in some Iowa gas stations and vape shops. The leaves from kratom trees, which are native to southeast Asia, are eaten or crushed and being used in teas or sold as a powder or pill. A synthetic version of kratom has recently been developed. Republican Representative Mike Vondran of Davenport says it’s time to classify kratom as an illegal drug.
“There’s a growing public safety crisis with the abuse of kratom, increaseing reports of emergency room visits and fatalities related to kratom are on the rise,” Vondran said, “up 120% year over year in Iowa.” The bill passed the House on a 69 to 26 vote and an identical bill is eligible for debate in the Iowa Senate. Representative Ray Sorenson, a Republican from Greenfield, says kratom has been used for centuries by millions of people and, rather than banning it, he says kratom should be regulated and only those 21 and older should be able to buy it.
