Illinois Grapples With How To Police Soaring Kratom Use
As kratom’s popularity climbs in Illinois, lawmakers are split over whether to crack down on the herbal product or bring it into a tightly regulated market. Kratom, derived from a Southeast Asian tree, is sold in powders, capsules and extracts, and is touted by users for pain relief, energy and easing opioid withdrawal.
Health officials and the FDA warn it can cause addiction, among other things, especially when mixed with other drugs. Some legislators back a bill to classify key kratom alkaloids as Schedule III controlled substances, while another proposal would raise the purchase age to 21, mandate testing and labeling, and add a 5 percent tax.
