Kratom: What it is and should it be regulated in Ohio?
Kratom, an herbal substance that can have opioid-like effects, is widely available and unregulated in Ohio, but an industry-backed bill that’s halfway through the General Assembly could set standards for the substance.
The Kratom Consumer Protection Act aims to guarantee the purity of the greenish-brown powder sold in stores throughout Southwest Ohio and prevent regulators from treating it as a drug.
Economists estimate kratom is a $1.3 billion industry in the U.S. and growing, according to Mac Haddow, senior fellow on public policy for the American Kratom Association. Up to 10 million Americans use kratom for some purpose, said state Rep. Scott Lipps, R-Franklin, co-sponsor of the bill to regulate the substance. One researcher estimates 300,000 Ohioans use it.
