New House bill could ban kratom in Mississippi

BILOXI, Miss. (WLOX) – One day after medical marijuana became legal in Mississippi, the state House passed legislation that would make the herbal product known as Kratom, illegal.

According to Mississippi House Drug Policy Chairman Lee Yancey, Kratom is a drug that has no medicinal value. He wants it banned in Mississippi and House Bill 681 would do just that.

“Kratom is a natural herb,” said Dr. Feel Good Botanicals owner Harry Gonsoulin. “It grows in Indonesia. It’s been around for thousands of years. Slaves used it in the field to chew on it for energy and pain.”

Yancey said that law enforcement agencies, district attorney’s offices and other groups asked him to introduce legislation banning the product because they view it as addictive.

“Opioids are a man-made chemical,” said Gonsoulin. “Opioids don’t even help pain. It covers it a little bit, but it doesn’t do anything for pain.

Read the full story at wdam.com