Texas Bill Aims to Ban All But Plain Leaf Kratom

A bill that would ban all kratom products except for raw leaf products alone is currently in the Texas Senate.

Senate Bill 1868 prohibits any kratom product that is not:

"(A) raw or dried kratom leaves;
 (B)  ground kratom leaves;
 (C)  kratom leaf powder; or
 (D)  clear capsules containing kratom leaf powder"

This would restrict all kratom extract shots and prepared beverages. It also limits the amount of 7-hydroxymitragyine to just 0.1% of alkaloids, which is more restrictive than the usual 2%. An amount as low as 0.1% could also limit many plain leaf kratom products.

All products would have to be lab tested in a laboratory within the state, and be free of synthetic ingredients. The bill also restricts the sale of these products to those under the age of 21.

In amending the Texas Controlled Substances Act, SB1868 also adds all of kratom's main alkaloids to the controlled substances list, "other than within kratom". Meaning other than the alkaloids contained within the plain leaf products outlined in the bill.

The bill also adds tianeptine and other substances to the list.

Both the Global Kratom Coalition and the American Kratom Association, two nonprofits heavily sponsored by competing kratom businesses, oppose SB1868.

In a post on Twitter, the Global Kratom Coalition said, "7-hydroxymitragynine is a byproduct of mitragynine present in leaf material upon drying. An analysis of >300 kratom samples found leaf samples contain ~0.6 to 0.7% 7-hydroxymitragynine. A limit of 0.1% is an effective ban on all kratom products including dried kratom leaf."

The American Kratom Association has urged its followers to call the Texas Senate and ask them to stop the bill. They point out that the bill would install significant roadblocks in access to kratom, even banning kratom from being sold in shops that also sell tobacco, vape products, hemp, and alcohol, which would severely limit where kratom is available.

The marketing of highly concentrated extract products and kratom drinks has been considered problematic. Critics have charged that consumers of these products should have been more informed as to their risks, especially since these products that have not been traditionally consumed.

SB1868 is not on the Texas senate's intent calendar, meaning it could be voted on soon.