Members of a Senate committee will meet again Thursday with stakeholders and citizens to hear testimony and research on the use and risks of Kratom. The Senate Study Committee on Risks Associated with Kratom was created by the passage of Senate Resolution 832 during the 2018 Legislative Session.
The committee’s goal is to determine what action is necessary to address the risks associated with Georgia’s citizens using Kratom, according to the legislation that created the study committee.
According to information released by the Senate Press Office, Kratom is a tropical tree from Southeast Asia whose leaves can be used for psychotropic purposes such as a painkiller and/or recreational drug. Although Kratom is banned in five states, specifically Alabama and Tennessee, it is a fairly new drug that is being advertised as a way to “treat addiction to opioids” and as a replacement for opioid painkillers. According to FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, “As the scientific data and adverse event reports have clearly revealed, compounds in Kratom make it so it isn’t just a plant — it’s an opioid.”
Sen. Jeff Mullis (R-Chickamauga), chair of the committee, along with Sen. Dean Burke (R – Bainbridge) and Sen. Renee Unterman (R – Buford), will meet to hear testimony in Thursday morning’s meeting at the Capitol.
“Kratom is a new drug to many of us and I believe it is important for us to thoroughly study the effects it can have on those using it in place of other drugs. It is not a secret that our state, along with our nation, is going through an opioid crisis,” said Mullis.
“Too many of our citizens are battling the disease of addiction and unfortunately being exposed to substances that we do not fully know the effects of, such as Kratom, I look forward to working with the committee to fully study this issue so that we can take any steps necessary to ensure our citizens are aware of the harm it can do while also putting in place support for those who may have already been exposed to Kratom,” Mullis added.
