ARIZONA NEWS

Gov. Ducey signs bill regulating the sale of kratom products in Arizona

May 1, 2019, 4:55 AM | Updated: 8:27 am

(Getty Images Photo/Joe Raedle)...

(Getty Images Photo/Joe Raedle)

(Getty Images Photo/Joe Raedle)

PHOENIX — Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signed a bill Tuesday that regulates the sale of products containing kratom, a plant that can have mind-altering effects, after it was unanimously passed by both the state House and Senate.

A recent U.S. Centers for Disease Control study that found that 152 out of more than 27,000 people who died of an accidental drug overdose in a 17-month period had kratom in their system, and the substance was determined to be a cause of death in 91 of those cases.

The Arizona Kratom Consumer Protection Act prohibits the sale of kratom products to minors and creates requirements for product labels.

Selling kratom products, which can be consumed in a pill form, made into a tea, smoked or eaten in food, in violation of this law can result in a class two misdemeanor.

There are two compounds in the plant that target the same receptors in the brain as opioids and can cause similar effects, including “sedation, pleasure, and decreased pain,” according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Kratom is unregulated federally and is legally sold in Arizona, although some states have banned it.

In a letter to Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, Ducey called for the federal government to regulate the plant.

“I signed this bill because it takes a small but important step of prohibiting the sale of kratom to minors,” he wrote.

“But let me be clear — my signature on this bill should not be viewed as an endorsement of its consumption by adults.”

Advocates of kratom say it can act as a pain reliever and help alleviate symptoms of opioid withdrawal, but multiple federal agencies discourage its use.

Ducey cited a warning from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration urging consumers to avoid kratom due to risk of addiction and abuse.

“I will be writing to our federal partner agencies and strongly urging them to take a closer look at this product and promptly issue appropriate regulations,” he wrote.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Arizona News

Antwaun Ware received a life sentence for killing Jasmine Dunbar in 2018....

Kevin Stone

Man who killed woman, left baby on side of West Valley road in 2018 gets life sentence

A man who killed his ex-girlfriend and abandoned her baby on the side of a West Valley road in 2018 was sentenced to life in prison.

40 minutes ago

Silver Alert issued for 68-year-old man last seen in Phoenix...

KTAR.com

Silver Alert canceled after missing 68-year-old Valley man returns home

A Silver Alert was canceled after a missing 68-year-old man named Gregory Wascher who was last seen on Wednesday returned home on Friday.

3 hours ago

APS energy customers will soon see another rate increase....

Kevin Stone

Here’s why APS energy customers will soon see another rate increase

APS energy customers will soon see another rate increase after state regulators signed off on a proposed adjustment this week.

3 hours ago

A man died after being pulled from a house fire in Phoenix's Arcadia neighborhood on Friday morning...

Kevin Stone

Man dead after house fire in Phoenix’s Arcadia neighborhood

A man died after being pulled from a house fire in Phoenix's Arcadia neighborhood on Friday morning, authorities said.

4 hours ago

off-road vehicle crash...

Kevin Stone

1 teen killed, another seriously injured in off-road vehicle crash at Phoenix canal

One teenager was killed and another was seriously injured in an off-road vehicle crash at a Phoenix canal on Thursday evening, authorities said.

5 hours ago

A new report found one-third of Arizona public grade school students are chronically absent from sc...

Balin Overstolz

Chronic absentee rate for Arizona students remains far above pre-pandemic level, study finds

A new report found one-third of Arizona public grade school students are chronically absent from school, which is double the absence rate before the pandemic.

7 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

...

Asset Preservation Wealth & Tax

How to optimize the most money in 2024 tax returns

As tax season begins, getting your financials in order is important to maximize your tax return.

...

Bright Wealth Management

How to save money on retirement planning following 2024 election

PHOENIX -- With the 2024 election over, economic changes could impact how people plan for retirement as 2025 is on the horizon.

...

Sanderson Ford

Sanderson Ford’s Operation Santa Claus: Spreading holiday cheer through pickleball

Phoenix, AZ – Sanderson Ford, a staple in the Arizona community, is once again gearing up for its annual Operation Santa Claus charity drive.

Gov. Ducey signs bill regulating the sale of kratom products in Arizona