A bill advancing in the Iowa House would ban the sale of kratom, a plant-based stimulant sold at some Iowa gas stations and vape shops. Kratom products are typically made from crushed leaves brewed as tea or sold in powder or pill form, and a synthetic version has also emerged.
Supporters of the bill say kratom poses serious health and safety concerns. State officials say the substance has been smuggled into Iowa prisons and has been linked to violent behavior among some inmates.
Sheldon Bradshaw, an attorney representing the Scientific Association for Botanical Education and Research, said the group supports banning synthetic kratom but opposes a prohibition on the natural botanical version. Bradshaw said kratom has been used for centuries in Southeast Asia for pain relief and should remain legal in Iowa.
The head of the Iowa Office of Drug Control said the state medical examiner has identified 92 cases in which the primary compound in kratom contributed to a death, with most occurring before the synthetic version became available.
