A proposed ban on Kratom in Louisiana moved forward Tuesday after the Senate Judiciary C Committee advanced a bill that would criminalize the herbal substance.

Senate Bill 154, introduced by Sen. Jay Morris, R-West Monroe, who also chairs the committee, now heads to the full Senate. If approved there, it would still require support from the House before reaching Gov. Jeff Landry for final consideration.

At the same time, a separate House bill - HB 253 by Rep. Chad Boyer, R-Breaux Bridge - seeks to implement regulations for Kratom instead of banning it outright with the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA).

Both perspectives - those in favor of a ban and those advocating regulation - were presented during Tuesday’s committee hearing.

Supporters of the ban, including law enforcement officials and healthcare professionals, described Kratom as a public health concern. Some family members shared personal accounts of how Kratom use had negatively impacted their loved ones.

Conversely, researchers and users argued that Kratom holds therapeutic value, particularly in addressing opioid dependence. Several individuals said they had used Kratom to manage chronic pain and mental health conditions. While acknowledging the potential for misuse, they argued for tighter regulation, especially of synthetic variants containing elevated levels of 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) - far higher than what's naturally found in Kratom leaves.

Kratom products are derived from the leaves of a Southeast Asian tree, Mitragyna speciosa. For centuries, the leaves have been used for medicinal, social and ceremonial purposes. Despite this history, Kratom remains illegal in certain countries in the region.

At lower doses, it generally has stimulating effects; at higher doses, it can mimic opioids.

The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved Kratom for medical use and warns against its consumption due to a lack of formal safety and efficacy data.

Sen. Morris introduced amendments to reduce penalties in his bill. Under the revised version, possessing less than 20 grams of Kratom would result in a $100 fine. Possession of larger amounts could lead to up to six months in parish jail or a $1,000 fine. Distribution offenses would carry potential prison sentences of one to five years or fines up to $50,000.

During the hearing, Morris warned of the dangers of Kratom, saying it had caused significant harm to individuals and families. He framed the debate as a conflict between public health interests and a financially motivated industry.

Morris noted that similar efforts in other states have faced intense lobbying, driven by the growing profitability of Kratom which is widely sold online and in grocery stores, headshops and gas stations.

Pete Croughan, deputy secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health and a physician treating substance use disorders, testified that Kratom is frequently misused. He said he currently sees more patients struggling with Kratom than with crack cocaine. Most of these patients, he added, are using synthetic Kratom products.

Two parents shared personal stories of how Kratom use had affected their children. Melanie Jones testified that her son became addicted to Kratom while trying to manage anxiety and depression, resulting in multiple rehab visits and job losses. David Lubrano spoke emotionally about his son’s death, attributing it to withdrawal symptoms so severe that his son took his own life.

Others urged lawmakers not to outlaw the substance, stating that Kratom had helped them improve their health and quality of life. One individual said it alleviated his depression, while another credited it with helping him stop using suboxone, an opioid treatment medication.

Wednesday ForestBear, who lives with a spinal condition called Scheuermann’s Disease, testified that Kratom had helped her regain mobility and significantly reduce her pain.

Jack Henningfield of Pinney Associates and a faculty member at Johns Hopkins University described Kratom as an alternative to opioids for many users. Another Johns Hopkins researcher, Kirsten Smith, said her ongoing clinical trials involving kratom have yet to show negative effects.

Critics of the ban argued it could lead to an unregulated black market. Mac Haddow of the American Kratom Association (AKA), which lobbies for safe regulation of Kratom across the USA, said that unregulated, synthetic Kratom products are responsible for most health issues. He advocated for strong oversight to remove such products from the market.

Rep. Boyer’s HB253 targets these concerns and if successful could make Louisana the 16th state to adopt the KCPA (Kratom Consumer Protection Act). It would require Kratom products to be registered with the Louisiana Department of Health and meet strict labeling and safety standards. The bill must pass the House Appropriations Committee before it can be voted on by the full House.