ALLEGING THAT CHATBOTS ENCOURAGE THEIR CHILDREN TO SUICIDE. WELL, IT’S SKYROCKETING IN POPULARITY, ADVERTISED AS AN ENERGY BOOSTER, MOOD LIFTER, AND PAIN RELIEVER, YOU MAY HAVE HEARD OF KRATOM. IT’S EASY TO GET AT GAS STATIONS, AND MANY PEOPLE HAVE TURNED TO IT AS A NATURAL SUPPLEMENT TO HELP WITH WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS AFTER QUITTING OPIOIDS. BUT KRATOM CAN ALSO HAVE SERIOUS HEALTH COMPLICATIONS AND HAS BEEN PROVEN TO BE UNSAFE AND INEFFECTIVE, AND HAS LED TO AN INCREASE IN CALLS TO POISON CONTROL CENTERS IN PENNSYLVANIA. NOW, A GROUP OF DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS IN THE STATE HOUSE WANT TO REGULATE THE SUBSTANCE. IT WOULD ALLOW THE SALE OF NATURAL KRATOM AT REGISTERED RETAILERS TO PEOPLE 21 YEARS AND OLDER. THE MEASURE WOULD ALSO BAN SYNTHETIC KRATOM A

Pennsylvania lawmakers propose kratom regulations amid health concerns

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Updated: 5:55 PM EDT May 5, 2026

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Kratom, a substance advertised as an energy booster, mood lifter, and pain reliever, is skyrocketing in popularity and is easily accessible, including at gas stations. Many people have turned to kratom as a natural supplement to help with withdrawal symptoms after quitting opioids.However, the substance can have serious health complications, has been proven as unsafe and ineffective, and has led to an increase in calls to poison control centers in Pennsylvania. Now, a group of Democratic lawmakers in the Pennsylvania state House wants to regulate the substance. The proposed measure would allow the sale of natural kratom at registered retailers to individuals aged 21 and older. The legislation would also ban synthetic kratom, chemically inflated concentrations, and advertising targeted at children.

Kratom, a substance advertised as an energy booster, mood lifter, and pain reliever, is skyrocketing in popularity and is easily accessible, including at gas stations.

Many people have turned to kratom as a natural supplement to help with withdrawal symptoms after quitting opioids.

However, the substance can have serious health complications, has been proven as unsafe and ineffective, and has led to an increase in calls to poison control centers in Pennsylvania.

Now, a group of Democratic lawmakers in the Pennsylvania state House wants to regulate the substance. The proposed measure would allow the sale of natural kratom at registered retailers to individuals aged 21 and older.

The legislation would also ban synthetic kratom, chemically inflated concentrations, and advertising targeted at children.