Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
House passes bill to ban kratom sales, citing addiction and overdose concerns; possession and manufacture penalties set by weight
Summary
After hours of emotional testimony, the House passed Senate Bill 154 to ban kratom products, drawing supporters who cited addiction and family loss and opponents who urged narrower approaches; the bill imposes possession fines for small amounts and felony penalties for manufacturing and distribution by weight thresholds.
The Louisiana House on May 27 approved legislation to ban the sale and distribution of kratom products, a botanical extract linked in testimony to addiction, hospitalizations and at least one reported local death.
Chairwoman (Representative) Veil Villio carried the measure and described kratom as a product with stimulant effects at low doses and opioid‑like effects at higher doses. She and other supporters described family tragedies and public‑health reports documenting poison‑control calls, neonatal withdrawal concerns and product contamination. "Kratom can lead to overdose with symptoms ranging from nausea and vomiting to seizures, coma and…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
