WATERTOWN, New York (WWNY) – New York could soon regulate the sale of kratom, a drug often marketed as an herbal supplement to treat pain and anxiety.<\/p>\n
The Southeast Asian plant is sold in the form of pills, an additive in teas, and even a standalone tonic. <\/p>\n
What the marketing usually doesn\u2019t mention is that kratom can be addictive<\/p>\n
In New York state, there are no laws to keep it in check.<\/p>\n
\u201cKratom is widely available in convenience stores, in gas station stores, as well as in smoke shops,\u201d said Anita Seefried-Brown, project director for Alliance for Better Communities. <\/p>\n
Seefried-Brown says she has personally spoken with people in Watertown struggling with Kratom addiction. There are also entire online communities dedicated to trying to get off the stuff. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, higher doses can even trigger psychotic symptoms like paranoia and hallucinations. <\/p>\n
\u201cBecause it\u2019s so unregulated, there isn\u2019t a dosage where one can say, \u201cOh, I weigh X number of pounds, so X number of milligrams of Kratom would be safe,\u201d said Seefried-Brown.<\/p>\n
So far, a total of 18 states have regulated Kratom in some way, and New York could be joining that list. <\/p>\n
Two bills were delivered to the governor for her signature. One would require warning labels on kratom. The other would ban the sale of kratom to people under the age of 21. It\u2019s a start, but Seefried-Brown doesn\u2019t believe it does enough.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow is that going to be enforced? There are no teeth in that piece of legislation,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Seefried-Brown isn\u2019t calling for an outright ban, though. Rather, she wants the public to be educated about the risks involved with what they\u2019re putting in their bodies. <\/p>\n
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