Gov. DeWine calls for state ban on kratom

Gov. Mike DeWine this week asked the Ohio Board of Pharmacy to designate all natural and synthetic versions of kratom as illegal (Source: “Ohio kratom ban: Gov. Mike DeWine wants to declare it an illegal drug,” Columbus Dispatch, Aug. 26).
 
If approved, Ohio would be the first state in the country to do so.
 
Made from the leaves of a Southeast Asian tree, kratom is pitched as a treatment for chronic pain, opioid dependence, anxiety, depression and other disorders. It's sold online and in stores as powders, gummies and drinks.
 
While it has gained popularity in recent years, kratom can be modified into highly addictive synthetic versions that cause psychosis, seizures, hallucinations and death. Kratom caused more than 200 unintentional overdose deaths in Ohio between 2019 and 2024, according to Ohio Department of Health data.
 
“These modified kratom products, sold online and in stores, are essentially legal, over-the-counter opiates that anyone – including kids – can buy with just a few bucks,” DeWine said in a written statement. “There is no accepted medical use for kratom in Ohio, and it is an imminent public health risk. The Ohio Board of Pharmacy should act with urgency to schedule all kratom compounds and future alterations of them as Schedule I illegal drugs.”