BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – The green powder known as kratom is readily available at most gas stations and smoke shops around the state. If Senate Bill 154 passes, the sale and possession of this substance would be criminalized. The House advanced the ban with a broad majority of 86-6.
Two amendments were introduced that would have exempted the plant in its natural form from the ban but failed to pass. The bill now heads to the Senate for final approval before possibly being sent to the governor.
Despite the lack of FDA regulation, it’s estimated that nearly 300,000 Louisianans use kratom. One of them is Marlon Chouccoli, an army veteran who served two tours in Iraq.
Chouccoli, or ‘Chicco’ to his brothers in arms, suffers from PTSD from his time in combat. Coupled with the two major injuries he sustained to his lower back after coming back to the states, he sought pharmaceutical help from the Veterans Association and was prescribed opioids.
“We spent the last 16 months begging my doctor to taper me off, ‘I’m hooked on them, I have to get off of these,’” Chicco said. “He would lower my dosage but double my pill count.”
Years of back and forth between pain management drugs and SSRIs for the PTSD led to an opioid addiction for Chouccoli. In rehab, he met other veterans who were in the same boat. There, he learned about kratom.
“Haven’t touched an opioid since,” Chouccoli said. The substance has been a relief from the addiction, and he is advocating against SB 154.
Senator Jay Morris, who authored the legislation, said it’s just another way for addicts to get high and noted how some addiction experts warn the supplement is poorly regulated and can be just as addictive as street drugs.
“Listening to somebody who is an admitted drug addict is not a good reason to keep it on the street,” Morris said.
Many House lawmakers took the stand during the debate in support of the ban, telling personal stories of addiction and loss.
“[Addiction] is a disease and when you let people go to the gas station to medicate themselves, that’s the wrong vote to take,” Rep. Bryan Fontenot said.
SB 154 must pass Senate concurrence before being sent to the governor’s desk for signature. Governor Landry has indicated he supports the ban.
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