(Radio Iowa) - The Iowa House has approved a bill to ban the sale of kratom, a plant-based product that’s being sold in some Iowa gas stations and vape shops.
The leaves from kratom trees, which are native to southeast Asia, are crushed and made into teas or sold as a powder or pill. A synthetic version of kratom has recently been developed. Bill backers say there's been a 120 percent increase in E-R visits and fatalities in Iowa that are linked to kratom.
Opponents say kratom has been used for centuries by millions of people and, rather than banning it, it should be regulated and no one under 21 should be able to buy kratom.