HARRISBURG, DAUPHIN COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)- A bill that would ban the sale of Kratom, a hallucinogenic drug, to individuals under 18 passed through the Pennsylvania House of Representatives with a 197-3 vote on Monday.
According to the FDA, Kratom is a drug derived from a tropical tree from Southeast Asia. The leaves of this tree contain compounds that could cause hallucinatory effects and the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) said it produces opioid-like effects.
As of right now, Kratom is not a controlled substance. This means anyone, regardless of age, is able to purchase the drug.
While the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasn’t defined Kratom as a controlled substance, it is listed as a “Drug of Concern” and said some users have become addicted to the drug.
