Health Care

Kratom use surge leads states to ensure safety, quality

At least five states passed laws this year to regulate the herbal supplement.
In this Sept. 27, 2017, file photo, kratom capsules are displayed in Albany, N.Y. The herbal supplement has been promoted as an alternative to opioid painkillers and other prescription drugs. (AP Photo/Mary Esch, File)

As kratom’s popularity grows, more states are opting for regulations instead of bans.

State lawmakers weighing competing claims about the herbal supplement’s risks are increasingly siding with trade groups, which have advocated for a model law that introduces new guardrails but allows legal sales to continue.

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