Lee County officials, residents divided on Kratom

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Supervisors in another Northeast Mississippi county looked at the possibility of banning a herbal product that some said is dangerous and addictive, while others claimed it helps with chronic pain and lessens anxiety.

For Patrick Sudduth, living with constant pain from a back injury and cluster headaches was a way of life.

“I have been on almost every medication for headaches that a doctor can prescribe me, besides something that would be like opiates,” said Sudduth.

But the Itawamba County resident said when he started using the southeast Asian herb known as kratom, his pain was gone.

Sudduth ordered his kratom online and brewed it into a tea. However, kratom was available in convenience stores, where it was sold in liquid or tablet form.

Sudduth was aware that Lee County considered a ban on kratom and believed a little education will go a long way.

“All they really have to do is look into the facts and speak to people who use it, learn a little bit about what it is they’re banning before they give into sensationalized media concerning kratom,” said Sudduth.

Kratom was not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and had never been approved for medical use.  But the FDA did issue an advisory two years ago about kratom.

The advisory said kratom could be addictive and had the potential for abuse.  Lee County Sheriff Jim Johnson believed there are valid concerns about kratom because it is unregulated and widely available.

“When a parent comes in here and says, hey, my son or daughter has bought something, at x,y, z store, and they’re hallucinating, went into a coma, coma everything, I as a public safety official, have to step to see, I’m asking that this stuff be monitored,” Sheriff Johnson said.

Sheriff Johnson didn’t dispute that kratom can be used to help alleviate chronic pain,  but he also believed safeguards need to be in place.

“What I have read, there definitely needs to be some attention given to it, that’s all I’m asking our board to do,  do what we can to protect our kids and people here in our county,” said Sheriff Johnson.

Lee County Supervisors were expected to set a public hearing on a proposed kratom ban.

The sheriff believed state lawmakers will take up the issue next year.

In the meantime, kratom supporters promised a strong presence at Lee County’s public hearing on the issue.