A South Carolina bill proposing a statewide ban on kratom is unlikely to pass this year as senators seek more data on the controversial substance. The legislation, which previously cleared the House, sought to classify kratom as a Schedule I controlled substance, placing it alongside drugs like heroin and LSD.
Proponents of the ban, including law enforcement and some medical professionals, argue the products pose public health risks. Experts at the Medical University of South Carolina have linked synthetic versions of the substance to deaths and neonatal complications similar to opioid addiction. Furthermore, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division reports finding kratom mixed with illicit compounds such as MDMA and opiates.
Conversely, critics and researchers argue that a total ban could drive users toward illicit markets or harm those using the plant to manage pain and reduce opioid dependence. Some advocates suggest regulation is a more appropriate path than criminalization.
Economic concerns also played a role in the Senate’s hesitation. Lawmakers noted that current law already bans sales to those under 21, and businesses that expanded under those regulations could be unfairly harmed by a sudden reversal.
With the legislative session concluding this Thursday, the bill will not move forward. Senators plan to study the issue during the off-season, leaving the possibility open for renewed debate when the legislature reconvenes next year.
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