From J.P. Stovall – Jackson City Councilman
A resolution to request the State Legislature to ban the sale of Kratom in Tennessee will be presented by the Jackson City Council, Tuesday, September 2.
The resolution –
WHEREAS, Katrom, or Mitragynine, is currently used by over 1.5 million Americans over the age of twelve to self-treat various conditions;
WHEREAS, Kratom mimics the opioids currently problematic for abuse, addiction, and lethal side effects, yet the substance can be legally purchased by adults in Tennessee in forms such as pills, capsules, supplements, powders, liquids, and vapes;
WHEREAS, Kratom, which is commonly known as “gas station heroin,” is often sold in convenience stores, gas stations, and vape stores and can be found in and around the candy sections of these stores;
WHEREAS, most formulations of Kratom are in concentrations and doses that are not accompanied by data regarding ingredients, purity, dosing, or other critical information;
WHEREAS, most formulations of Kratom do not contain any warnings of drug interactions, overdoses, liver failure, or even death;
WHEREAS, between 2021 and 2023, more than 2,000 fatal Kratom-related overdoses were reported across the United States;
WHEREAS, Kratom is promoted as an herbal dietary supplement in Tennessee but yet is banned in two nations where the native plant is grown;
WHEREAS, Kratom is considered a controlled substance in sixteen other nations and is totally banned in Germany, Australia, and Sweden;
WHEREAS, other states in the United States have banned the substance, or at least are regulating it;
WHEREAS, the citizens of Jackson and the State of Tennessee deserve to be protected from harmful substances such as Kratom; and
WHEREAS, the Jackson City Council supports the banning of Kratom in the State of Tennessee in order to protect its citizens.
8 thoughts on “Resolution requesting State Legislature to ban sale of Kratom in Tennessee goes to Jackson City Council in September”
Big Pharma is slowly taking control. Tennessee was a battleground state in Tennessee vs. Miller which resulted in the State Attorney Herbert H. Slatery III to declare kratom leaf powder legal in Tennessee in 2016. All persons 21 and older can possess any amount of leaf powder, but extracts were banned. Here we are again in 2025, revisiting this same situation. Kratom is not an opiate. It is considered to be a health supplement in Indonesia, it’s country of origin. It does many great things for users including assisting in successful alcohol and opiate cessation. It is an effective natural anti depressant and helps manage pain in higher doses. It is non toxic and zero deaths have been recorded with “kratom only” and not mixed with other substances or situations involving natural death. Unlike opiates, kratom does not depress breathing and prevents opioid withdrawals during recovery. For many Tennesseans, kratom has become a natural way to manage pain and depression. Unfortunately, our pharmaceutical industry does not like natural plants that substitute for their prescription medications. Personally, I feel like Big Pharma wants kratom for a new generation of prescription pain medications. This issue has recently been inflamed by products that are concentrated and marketed as kratom OH7 in local gas stations. This issue has not been enforced as it was effectively banned back in 2016. Creating a black market is not the solution. The same can be said with the recent ban of thc containing products, which had also been legal in Tennessee since the passage of the Farm Bill. Prohibition needs to stop in Tennessee. Alcohol is a much more dangerous and addictive substance, but it is accepted as a “norm” in our area.
Get rid of it.
This natural plant has helped me and many others. I strongly urge people to vote to keep this as a viable option for people. It has helped me so much on my journey and I will continue to speak up to keep it available for many reasons.
To ban whole leaf kratom
Is basically sending thousands of people to death sentences. Big pharma can’t imagine losing their addicts to a natural substance that isn’t harmful when taken as directed.
Address the real issue here…education to consumers and taking down the big talking heads in the pharma industry that are just trying to put $ in their back pocket.
Excuse me while I step around this pyramid of highly addictive alcoholic beer in the middle of the floor to get to the candy aisle! Alcohol and cigarettes are much more addictive than natural Kratom.
There is a difference between the highly concentrated 7OH in pill form and whole leaf natural Kratom. Please do your research before banning ANYTHING.
Last thing we need is more regulation to take away the very few natural herbs that we can buy without big pharma sticking their hand in our pockets. Yet another freedom at risk. People have to be responsible with Kratom just like alcohol. I guess the powers at be are okay with alcohol ruining peoples lives slowly via health issues or quickly by a drunk driver. Make this make sense. Our legislation needs to reset their moral compass and prioritize introducing healthy alternatives and break through technology. If they want to regulate something, regulate the chemicals in our food that is making us fat, dumb, and sick.
I live in crossville tn im 53yrs old.I have be en chronic pain patient 24yrs.i was forced off my pain meds like millions of other pain patients.we was treated horrible like addicts. I was able to find kratom. It help me reclaim my life from chronic pain. I have been kratom consumer 8yrs.kratom is helping pain patients be able to enjoy life again.my mom had 7 heart bypass and she was forced off pain meds. And she been taking kratom 7yrs.and her blood work is great no problems.please adopt the. Kratom consumers protection act.to protect consumers from adulterated kratom.
If it’s “natural” then why does it mimic the same withdrawals as herion when trying to stop the “natural product” why is one so addicted to it they can’t stop and when they try, they are vomiting, cold chills and sweats, hurting, feel super sick. They stay high as kite when on it as one would if they were on herion. Tell me how this stuff is okay to be sold straight off the shelf to just anyone “over the age of 21” get out of here! This stuff needs to be banned, I have read where family members have won lawsuits where loved ones have died taking this junk so tell me again how no one has died taking this?? It shuts your liver and kidneys down when took in mass quantities over periods of time. It’s not good! I don’t care if it helps your pain in your toe. It’s not safe and there are addicts out here abusing it.