November 30, 2022

Kratom may no longer be welcome in Georgia. How come? State lawmakers are looking to ban the Southeast Asian plant thanks to a new bill. Currently, kratom is unregulated in Georgia and can be purchased virtually anywhere. That’s one of the reasons why the state’s legislators want to rein in the products. What does this new bill look like, and what are the specifics? We have all the details to keep you informed. 
Current Kratom Status in Georgia 
Currently, kratom is 100% legal in Georgia. As a result, residents can purchase kratom from places like convenience stores, CBD shops, and gas stations. Unlike in other states, they don’t have to go to specialty shops and don’t have a lot of barriers in their way. That’s why kratom has increased in popularity over the past few years, with more people than ever enjoying these products. However, with the latest bill, all of this is in jeopardy.
House Bill 181 
According to GPG, House Bill 181 would enable lawmakers to classify kratom as a Schedule 1 substance. Under state law, that label means the product is dangerous and can’t be researched for valid purposes. Other Schedule 1 substances include LSD and heroin. If the bill passes, people caught in possession of kratom could face a potential felony.
Republican Rep. Rick Townsend said he sponsored the bill because of his constituents. He explained several parents contacted him regarding concerns about kratom, especially its use among young people. Rep. Townsend and some of the residents of his district don’t want minors to have such easy access to kratom.
Rep. Townsend also said that the labeling regulations in place right now aren’t enough. The rep believes that changes are long overdue and should have happened years ago.
Committee Hearing 
People on both sides of the aisle spoke out at a committee hearing. Democratic Rep. Tanya Miller said the House Bill is unnecessary since there’s “bipartisan support for a federal law to protect access to kratom and regulate its quality.” Opponents of the bill spoke out to tout how beneficial kratom has been for them. Also, they disagreed with criminalizing people for possessing kratom.
On the other hand, supporters of the bill stated that they believe kratom is dangerous, especially in the wrong hands. They said that since kratom is unregulated, customers aren’t even aware of how much kratom is actually in products. They also pointed out that manufacturers could adulterate kratom products with dangerous substances.
The Road to Kratom Kaps
Since lawmakers didn’t vote on the bill in committee, there’s still a long road to go. As we wait to see what happens in Georgia, you can still get your hands on premium products at Kratom Kaps. We offer an array of high-quality items containing some of the finest kratom around. At Kratom Kaps, we thoroughly test all our products to ensure customer safety. Please visit our website to learn more about Kratom Kaps.
Source:
https://www.gpb.org/news/2023/02/17/lawmakers-bill-aims-ban-kratom-in-georgia#:~:text=Under%20current%20Georgia%20Law%2C%20kratom,labeling%20regulations%20for%20the%20drug.