What is kratom? Why bills about the controversial supplement are making rounds in the Texas Legislature
AUSTIN, Texas — The State of Texas is taking new steps to regulate a controversial supplement. Lawmakers passed a bill to create new rules for Kratom to make sure what’s being sold is safe.
A large operation just north of Austin belonging to Steding and Sons Mercantile has workers producing Kratom for consumers nationwide, with rows and rows of products ready to hit doorsteps.
“There are some 40 alkaloids in the Kratom plant. It’s part of the coffee family of plant materials,” said Mac Haddow with the American Kratom Association.
Kratom comes from the Mitragyna speciosa plant, and its dried leaves are said to offer health benefits.
“It can improve your mood. It elevates you, it gives you a lot of energy and, at higher doses, it relieves pain,” Haddow said.
