Committee advances 'CJ's Law' to ban kratom products after emotional testimony
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Summary
A3797, dubbed CJ's Law, was released by the committee; proponents said it would save lives and criminalize kratom manufacture/sale/possession, while kratom advocates urged delay in favor of regulation and consumer safety standards.
The Assembly State and Local Government Committee released A3797, known as CJ’s Law, which would criminalize the manufacture, sale and possession of products containing kratom extracts. The bill’s proponents included the mother of a man who died after using a concentrated kratom extract; opponents included the American Kratom Association and other advocates who urged regulation rather than an outright ban.
Ryan Burrows, executive director of the American Kratom Association, asked the committee to delay action and consider a regulatory alternative, arguing that recent scientific work and state regulatory models support a consumer‑safety approach rather than criminalization. "Regulation is critical," Burrows said, and urged the committee to examine Kratom Consumer Protection Act approaches used in other states.
Patricia (Trish) Bassone gave emotional victim testimony and urged a ban. She described finding empty bottles at her son’s home and said her son Christopher James Hollowack, "CJ," died after consuming a concentrated kratom product. "My son died a senseless death," Bassone said, and urged the committee to make kratom illegal in New Jersey.
Committee members voted to release the bill for further consideration. Several members noted the seriousness of the public‑health claims and asked sponsors to consider the public‑safety arguments provided by victims and the data cited by advocates for further deliberation.
