Louisiana Kratom Bans Continue as Dangers Come to Light

As more local governments in Louisiana and throughout the country realize the dangers of using kratom, a herbal substance commonly referred to as “gas station heroin” because of its addictive properties and widespread availability, officials are moving to regulate its use or even ban it altogether. 

Kratom is derived from the leaves of the Mitragyna Speciosa tree in southeast Asia, where locals have consumed it in tea for hundreds of years. Gas stations, convenience stores, and smoke shops all around the U.S., where kratom has gained popularity in recent decades, also sell it in pill and powder form. It can produce a stimulating, euphoric effect, and has been touted as a remedy for depression, anxiety, pain, and even opioid addiction.

Over one million Americans purchase kratom every year. But the FDA has repeatedly warned of its potentially dangerous consequences, including addiction, overdose, and even death.

Following Louisiana’s first kratom death lawsuit filed by Herman, Katz, Gisleson & Cain last summer, the Ouachita Parish Police Jury banned kratom last November in its unincorporated areas, leaving out the cities of Monroe, West Monroe, Sterlington, and Richwood.

Last month, the city of West Monroe voted for its own ban, which went into effect Feb 1. Both bans correspond with a recent state law prohibiting kratom sales to people under 21 years old and allowing local governments to establish their own restrictions. 

Here at HKGC, we’re hoping that kratom lawsuits continue to motivate other Louisiana parishes and cities to further regulate this dangerous substance.

A Tragic Case Against Kratom

Last summer, Herman, Katz, Gisleson & Cain filed a wrongful death lawsuit against multiple kratom manufacturers, retailers, and distributors of OPMS brand kratom sold in Monroe. 

The lawsuit alleges that the defendants manufactured and sold a dangerous product to consumers without warning them about the potential risks, violating the Louisiana Products Liability Act.

Sadly, this case is far from an isolated incident. More than 2,000 people in the U.S. died from kratom-related overdoses over the last four years. Adding to kratom’s dangers, at least 35 of those fatalities were linked to products containing lead and salmonella. The FDA even warns that safe kratom products don’t exist, but manufacturers continue to market them as a natural herbal supplement.

Users have reported serious psychological, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular side effects. And despite kratom advocates’ claims that the substance can manage chronic pain, there is no clinical evidence to support that. One University of Connecticut study found that regular kratom use can lower pain tolerance, leading to increased pain when not using it. 

Cracking Down On Kratom Sales

Kratom is not federally regulated, although the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) lists it as a “drug of concern.” The agency tried unsuccessfully to reclassify it as a Schedule 1 controlled substance in 2016. So for now, it’s up to individual cities and states to tighten regulations.

Kratom is banned statewide in Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin, and local governments all over the country and Louisiana are discussing or have already enacted bans. More than 15 states have also passed laws prohibiting those under 21 to buy kratom. 

While these moves are encouraging, having different levels of restriction across state lines or even city limits creates loopholes that make it easy for companies to keep selling kratom without much oversight. Kratom injuries and deaths are likely to increase as long as this lack of standards remains. 

Kratom bans in Ouachita Parish and West Monroe will hopefully lead to a ban in Monroe.  Lawsuits like the one HKGC filed will hopefully help convince lawmakers of the dangers of kratom.

If you or someone you know has suffered from kratom use, the Louisiana product liability attorneys at Herman Katz, Gisleson & Cain can help you get the justice and compensation you deserve from negligent parties who value profit over safety. Call us for more information at 844-943-7626 or contact us online for a free, no-obligation case review.