Kratom Bill Heading to Governor’s Desk

(Learfield News/St. Paul, MN) — A bill establishing age restrictions for kratom possession is heading to the governor’s desk for his signature.

Following the House’s lead earlier in the week, the Senate passed the bill 56-10,  raising the age from 18 to 21-years-old.

Kratom is a natural product derived from a tree native to southeast Asia.

People use it as a self-remedy for anxiety, pain management, and opioid withdrawal, but it is not recommended by the FDA.

Health officials say the synthetic version being sold in the U.S. had led to liver and kidney issues, seizures, and addiction.