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What is kratom, and what are the risks?
Dr. Alta Deroo of the Hazelden Betty Ford Clinic joined FOX 9 All Day to discuss Kratom and the risks associated with this drug. There is a bill at the Minnesota Capitol to increase the age to buy kratom to 21 years old. Some states have banned the sale of the drug altogether.
(FOX 9) - After lawmakers zeroed in on addiction concerns this past legislative session, the age to legally purchase—and the penalties associated with—the intoxicating substance kratom will rise in Minnesota beginning on Aug. 1.
FULL LIST: New Minnesota laws that take effect Aug. 1
Kratom age limit in Minnesota
What we know:
HF 3453, sponsored by Rep. Jessica Hanson (DFL-Burnsville), raised the legal age to purchase and possess kratom legally from 18 to 21 years old – in the process making it a gross misdemeanor to sell kratom to anyone under 21, and a misdemeanor for anyone under 21 to possess it.
The bill was approved by Minnesota lawmakers, then signed into law by Gov. Walz on May 5 of this year.
Dig deeper:
Kratom is a plant native to Southeast Asia that has gained popularity in the United States through derivates such as pills and drinks that are promoted as an unapproved treatment for pain, anxiety and reducing drug dependence.
Previously in Minnesota, it was legal to sell kratom to those over 18 years old in Minnesota, though local governments have sought their own stricter ordinances.
In recent months, the Food and Drug Administration has begun to attempt to crackdown on products at a federal level, but they can still be easily found at places such as tobacco shops and even convenience stores.
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OD victim’s mother calls for further restrictions
A Chanhassen woman is calling for increased restrictions on kratom in Minnesota after her son died from an opioid overdose. FOX 9’s Mike Manzoni explains.
Big picture view:
FOX 9 previously outlined the struggles one family faced after a woman had her son succumb to kratom addiction.
"This is just such a danger. We are not just having deaths; we are having significant morbidity," Dr. Kurt DeVine, an addiction physician in St. Cloud, told FOX 9 at the time.
What's next:
Bills to classify kratom as a Schedule II substance requiring a prescription in Minnesota failed to gain approval during the previous legislative session, but could be revisited next year.
The Source: Previous FOX 9 reporting from the Minnesota Legislature.