A Republican state senator, Sen. John Bizon who is a medical doctor too, has introduced a bill to regulate Kratom that’s available online and at gas stations and head shops. People would need prescription from a doctor to use the increasingly popular herbal supplement in Michigan.
Bizon has pointed out in the news release that the unregulated drug is addictive in nature and there has been an alarming increase in its usage recently. He affirmed measures are being taken to help prevent such tragedies and the continuous abuse of the drug.
The CDC had reported 91 deaths in April where overdoses involved Kratom. All these deaths in over an 18-month period. The deaths involved other drugs too so it was difficult to determine kratom’s role in the overdoses.
American Kratom Association in response wrote that Kratom is clearly getting adulterated with substances like fentanyl, heroin, benzodiazepines, cocaine, and other prescription opioids which has led to overdose deaths. Only few sources have remained that sell organic and healthy kratom online, listing all its ingredients for safe usage. Many companies have been advocating for more such kind of kratom sellers to come online and improve the kratom market.
Last year FDA had announced a recall of some Kratom products linked to a Salmonella outbreak. It had sickened 199 people in 41 states. 4 cases were documented in Michigan. FDA warnings have turned to newspaper headlines thus placing pressure on politicians to ban the substance.
Michigan is among nine states which is considering regulating the substance under the “Kratom Consumer Protection Act.” This regulation would require companies to test the product and list the ingredients and directions on the label. The act has been approved in Utah, Nevada, Georgia, and Arizona.
