NYS Legislature agrees to ban on synthetic kratom products

ALBANY — New York lawmakers unanimously agreed to ban a synthetic version of kratom, a plant native to Southeast Asia traditionally used for mild sedative effects.

The lawmakers approved legislation during their last day at the state Capitol that would prevent stores from selling products that contain 7-hydroxymitragynine, an opioid-like chemical that multiplies the effects of the active ingredient in kratom, mitragynine.

State Sen. Anthony Palumbo (R-Riverhead), who co-sponsored the legislation, shared a story on the Senate floor about a woman in his district who began using kratom to treat her anxiety.

Her usage exploded when she began using synthetic kratom, needing more of the drug to feel the effect, he said. At one point she was taking 200 milligrams of kratom, when the usual therapeutic dose is 5 milligrams.

"It's almost like your typical heroin addiction: You're always chasing out the initial high and you can just never get there, so you keep using more and more and more, and it's just so highly addictive, it's extremely dangerous and scary," Palumbo said.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued warnings last July regarding the sale and use of products containing 7-hydroxymitragynine, which are commonly found at gas stations and convenience stores, calling it more addictive than morphine.

Kratom naturally contains around 2% mitragynine, but the synthetic products created in a lab can contain much higher concentrations. Synthetic mitragynine is roughly 13 times more potent than morphine, and users can become addicted.

The Southeast Asian herbal product is often taken for an energy boost and has been billed to alleviate pain and anxiety, and ease withdrawal from opioids.

Users who try to stop using products that contain the drug can experience withdrawal symptoms and may need to be subscribed suboxone.

There are also cases of users overdosing on the product. Last year, Gov. Kathy Hochul said kratom was traced to over 100 deaths in New York.

In December, Hochul signed a bill requiring warning labels and ingredient disclosures on kratom products derived from the kratom plant.

Assemb. Phil Steck (D-Colonie), who sponsored the bill banning synthetic kratom, said the growing popularity of synthetic kratom products and the lack of regulations make it a public health concern.

"This legislation, combined with the kratom labeling law we passed last year, will help protect New Yorkers from dangerous and highly addictive substances," Steck said in a statement.

If Hochul signs the bill, New York will become the eighth state to ban the products, joining Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Indiana, Mississippi, Vermont and Wisconsin.