Ducey Signs Bill To Stop Kratom Sales to Minors
Gov. Doug Ducey signed into law a bill that regulates kratom in the Grand Canyon State.
“I signed this bill because it takes a small but important step of prohibiting the sale of kratom to minors,” Ducey said in a signing letter, “but let me be clear – my signature on this bill should not be viewed as an endorsement of its consumption by adults.”
Ducey added that he would be reaching out to federal agencies to urge them to “promptly” look at kratom and issue “appropriate regulations.”
“Several states and cities have already acted, and it is time the federal government takes action as well,” Ducey wrote.
Kratom is still undergoing evaluations by federal agencies, such as the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Food and Drug Administration, and has been making some medical professionals nervous.
The measure, sponsored by Rep. Tony Rivero, R-Peoria, disallows the sale of kratom to anyone under the age of 18 and requires sellers of the product to disclose what is in their kratom-based products.
Its been on the DEA’s radar since 2011, according to DEA spokeswoman Katherine Pfaff. The agency has had it listed as a “drug of concern” since then.
The DEA is currently waiting on the Food and Drug Administration to complete a medical and scientific review of the main components of kratom, mitragynine, and 7-hydroxymitragynine, before deciding whether to classify it as a Schedule I drug.
Under Arizona’s new kratom law, if the federal government decides to regulate kratom, the more stringent of the regulations would be enforced. For example, if the federal government decided that kratom could only be purchased by those 21 and older, that regulation would overrule Arizona’s age limit of 18.
