Suffolk lawmakers reschedule vote to potentially ban kratom
County legislators have been considering putting a stop to the sale and distribution of the products, which are advertised as an 'all-natural herb', but can act like an opioid in excess.
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A vote scheduled for Tuesday’s meeting of the Suffolk Legislature on the potential ban of kratom was delayed.
The public comment debating the change went on so long that lawmakers had to reschedule the vote on whether to adopt the measure.
Legislators have been considering putting a stop to the sale and distribution of the products, which are advertised as an 'all-natural herb', but can act like an opioid in excess.
Supporters of the blanket ban say kratom is highly addictive, while those against the new law argue a synthetic drug derived from the plant is the real problem.
"There are a lot of dangerous chemical products that say they’re kratom, and there are a lot of dangerous 7-OH products that are an opiate that kill people and they shouldn't be on the marketplace. But, there are also millions of Americans, veterans and seniors that consume the natural safe product, proven to be safe, they don't abuse it, they don't get addicted, it’s just their go-to product to give them a qualify of life,” said John Shinholser, Advocacy Director of American Veterans for Kratom Safe.
Nassau County passed a nearly identical ban this year, and New York State passed restrictions on kratom last year, requiring the product packaging have warning labels.
