Kratom Ban Proposal Sparks Backlash on Mississippi Gulf Coast

A renewed push to criminalize kratom in Mississippi has ignited fierce opposition from users and small businesses along the Gulf Coast. A Bill to add the herbal substance to the state’s Schedule I controlled substances list, effectively bans over-the-counter sales. At Cannabis Candy Shop & Kratom, where kratom accounts for about 75% of revenue across five locations, staff warn the measure would devastate their business and harm customers who rely on the product for pain relief and opioid recovery. Advocates describe kratom as a non-addictive alternative that has helped some Mississippians overcome long-term prescription drug dependence, even as state officials link it to multiple deaths. The full report appears at WLOX.