Blog

Apr 25, 2023

Livingston Parish kratom ban proposal stalls

A kratom leaf, the source of an herbal supplement that users say can provide

A kratom leaf, the source of an herbal supplement that users say can provide pain relief and relieve insomnia, among other uses.

A Livingston Parish Council proposal to ban the sale of kratom, an herbal extract that has prompted heated debate in the community about whether it is a danger to constituents, did not make it out of committee for a formal introduction Thursday night.

A motion made by Council member Shane Mack, who proposed the ordinance, to introduce the law for a public hearing and eventual vote in two weeks was not seconded, halting efforts by some local officials to prohibit the product's proliferation in the parish.

"The future plan is to continue researching," Mack said after the ordinance introduction failed. "And [continue] the discussion on whether the sale of kratom should be banned or regulated in Livingston Parish. I would like to learn more about the benefits and hazards of selling kratom in Livingston Parish."

Kratom is a tropical tree that is part of the broad family that includes the coffee tree and has a long history of use in Southeast Asia, where it was chewed, smoked or used in brewed tea to fight fatigue and for some religious ceremonies, federal agencies say.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration calls kratom a "drug and chemical of concern" that has been found to provide an energy boost at low doses but sedative, opioid-like effects at higher ones. While the product is not regulated under the Controlled Substances Act, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved kratom for any medical use.

Six states have banned the product, including Arkansas. Kratom has already been outlawed in two Louisiana parishes: Ascension and Rapides. One state lawmaker plans to file a measure to ban the extract in the upcoming Legislative session.

Council member Garry "Frog" Talbert pointed out during the meeting that statehouse officials would likely be making the call on kratom in the coming months.

"I think that we need to let the legislature do what they do," he said.

The Livingston Parish sheriff and coroner have urged the council to consider a ban on kratom, citing its frequent presence in drug busts and overdoses involving other substances that are illegal, unlike kratom. But some residents and pro-kratom advocacy groups argue that the herbal extract is a legal and safe way to manage long-term pain and disorders like depression, anxiety and PTSD.

Mack ultimately decided that the risk was too great after a recent meeting of the council's ordinance committee, where he heard testimony from the coroner and local law enforcement.

In that exchange, Dr. Ron Coe, the parish coroner, referenced the 2021 death of a 2-year-old girl who died after ingesting both kratom and an antidepressant called tianeptine.

Mack argued that the parish does not have the resources to regulate or monitor kratom, leaving a ban as the only reasonable alternative. Pro-kratom organizations and residents have pushed for regulation over prohibition, urging officials to maintain guidelines that would protect kratom users and ensure they are receiving an unadulterated product.

Pro-kratom advocacy groups say kratom functions like a cup of coffee at low doses, alleviates anxiety and helps with mood disorders at a higher level, and acts as a safer but less effective replacement for the chronic pain treatment of opioids at the highest level.

Email Jacqueline DeRobertis at [email protected]