Louisiana has never been a state that backs down from a fight. We fight for our families, for our communities, and for the freedom to make our own choices. That’s exactly what’s at stake with Senate Bill 154, which would ban kratom statewide—and shut down the only kava bar in Louisiana: mine.
Euphorbia isn’t just a place to grab a drink. It’s the only kava bar in the state. It’s a space where people come to heal. I’ve seen people walk through our doors trembling from opioid withdrawal, people who’ve been to the edge and made their way back. And the thing that helped them stabilize—what helped them sleep, eat, and stay off heroin—was kratom.
One of our regulars was using street fentanyl before he found us. He told me kratom saved his life. Another woman had tried nearly every anxiety medication on the market and ended up in rehab for alcohol abuse. Kratom gave her a way out—a way to feel calm without numbing herself. I’m not speaking in generalities here. These are real people, with names and faces, who are terrified of what’s going to happen if this ban goes through.
There’s no question we should regulate kratom. Euphorbia supports rules around age limits, third-party testing, and labeling. But an outright ban? That’s not public safety. That’s political panic. If we shut down access to kratom, we’re not saving lives—we’re pushing people right back into the spiral they fought so hard to escape.
And then what?
If kratom disappears from legal shelves, it won’t disappear from demand. Instead, a new market will rise in its place—one filled with synthetic kratom derivatives that are unregulated, chemically altered, and far more dangerous. We’ve seen this happen before. We cracked down on painkillers and fentanyl filled the vacuum. We banned synthetic cannabis and ended up with products that sent people to the ER. When lawmakers ban a safer, natural alternative, they don’t stop the problem—they supercharge it.
Let’s also talk about the numbers. Kratom has not caused a single confirmed death on its own. In every case where it’s been mentioned, other substances were present. Meanwhile, alcohol kills over 140,000 people in this country each year. Tobacco? Nearly half a million. Prescription opioids—most of them legal—are behind tens of thousands of fatal overdoses annually. Where’s the call to ban those?
Why is it that the people who’ve found something that helps them without destroying their bodies are the ones we punish?
If SB 154 becomes law, Euphorbia will close. That’s the end of the only sober, plant-based social space of its kind in Louisiana. But more importantly, it’s the end of a support system that hundreds of people rely on to stay alive, stay sober, and stay grounded.
If you’re a lawmaker, come visit us. Sit down with the people who are scared right now. Ask them what this plant means to them. Ask them what they’ll do if it’s taken away.
This isn’t about some obscure herbal supplement. It’s about people. It’s about choice. It’s about not ripping away the only thing that’s worked when everything else has failed.
You want to prevent harm? Keep kratom legal. Regulate it. Make it safe. But don’t take it away.
Too many lives depend on it.
You are incorrect. Kratom has and does cause fatalities on its own. My son suffered from a horrific kratom addiction and it wrecked his life. He morphed from a bright college graduate with a promise future into a sketchy kratom addict. He became angry and suspicious. His grooming went south. He couldn’t hold down a job. He resorted to stealing to support his kratom addiction. He was admitted to the ER in a semi comatose state, and tests revealed that he overdosed on Kratom and ONLY kratom.
He suffered from nodding out, anxiety, depression, gastrointestinal issues, and absolutely horrific and violent seizures. He went to three rehabs for kratom addiction. He’s currently working part time at a menial job, but he’s alive and sober, which is more than i can say for friends of mine who have lost loved ones to kratom.
My son stated that has stated that although he had sometimes took other drugs and drank alcohol, kratom was his primary addiction. Furthermore, Kratom didn’t help his addictions – it exacerbated them, and he said a big part of the problem was its easy accessibility.
Kratom has its place for the treatment of addiction and pain management, but it needs to be rigorously studied, tested, and judiciously prescribed, just like any other drug. Until then, this dangerous drug should be banned, and I and countless others who have been harmed by kratom will keep fighting to make this happen.
Your article supporting kratom is deeply troubling. While some claim it has therapeutic benefits, the reality is that kratom has contributed to addiction, health crises, and even deaths. It’s a psychoactive substance that mimics opioids in the brain—hardly the “safe alternative” some make it out to be.
I’ve seen firsthand how it can destroy lives, and I’m disappointed to see a platform give it positive coverage without fully acknowledging the risks. Responsible journalism should include the voices of medical professionals, addiction specialists, and families who’ve been affected.
You can do better.
This is an opinion piece and labeled as such.
1. Protecting Public Health and Safety
“Kratom is an unregulated psychoactive substance that is being marketed as safe — yet it has caused hundreds of deaths, including my own son, Joseph S. Lumbrazo, who died from mitragynine toxicity.”
2. Scientific Evidence of Harm
“According to the CDC and FDA, kratom contains powerful alkaloids that affect the brain like opioids. The NIH has linked kratom to addiction, seizures, and fatal overdoses.”
3. Lack of Regulation Is a Public Crisis
“Kratom is being sold without dosage guidelines, ingredient testing, or age restrictions. People believe it’s safe — and it’s killing them.”
4. Myth: ‘You Can’t Overdose on Kratom’
“That is categorically false. Autopsy reports and toxicology tests show clear evidence of deaths caused solely by kratom — not just in combination with other drugs.”
5. States and Countries Have Already Banned It
“Six U.S. states — including Alabama, Indiana, and Wisconsin — have already banned kratom. So have multiple countries, including Thailand and Malaysia. Why hasn’t New York protected its citizens the same way?”
6. It’s Marketed to Teens and Vulnerable Populations
“Kratom is sold in gas stations, head shops, and online — often labeled as ‘natural’ or ‘safe.’ This targets young people and those in recovery.”
7. We Need Prevention, Not Reaction
“Don’t wait for more deaths. Let New York be a national leader in putting public health before profit.”
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🔹 Emotional/Personal Hook (Optional but Powerful)
“My son was a real person — a father, a brother, a friend. He believed what he was told: that kratom was safe. We buried him at 38 years old. I don’t want any other parent to have to bury their child from a substance sold right next to candy bars.”
No one is claiming Kratom is harmless at all, but banning a substance that has done much less damage when compared to alcohol is not the answer. Putting people in prison is not the answer. Regulation, testing and education is. We don’t believe in exacerbating the war on drugs and turning addicts into criminals, especially when you have drugs like alcohol that kill thousands and thousands of more people annually. If there actually is a problem, this is not the way to solve it. Do you think all efforts to make more potent synthetic derivatives that will kill many more people will simply cease? They won’t and the situation will become much much worse. We are truly very sorry about the loss of your son and if this would truly make people safer we would do what it takes. But the reality this bill, if it becomes law, will make matters much much worse. It’s reactionary.
Thank you for your message and for expressing your concerns. I understand that the intention behind your argument is to promote a balanced approach, and I agree that we should never criminalize those who are struggling with addiction. However, it’s important to clarify that the current lack of federal regulation has created a dangerous environment where untested, highly potent kratom products are freely sold — often mislabeled and easily accessible to minors.
Comparing kratom to alcohol isn’t a justification for inaction — it’s a warning. We’ve seen what happens when a dangerous substance is normalized before the science catches up. And unlike alcohol, kratom is being deceptively marketed as a safe alternative to opioids, wellness supplement, or even a natural cure. That deception is costing lives — including my son’s.
The idea that banning kratom will somehow accelerate the creation of dangerous synthetics assumes we aren’t already facing that very reality. Unscrupulous vendors are already modifying kratom’s alkaloids to increase potency and addictiveness. Without a federal ban or serious regulatory oversight, this trend will worsen — not because of legislation, but because profit-driven exploitation thrives in legal gray areas.
This isn’t about punishing people who use — it’s about stopping those who knowingly sell a dangerous and unregulated substance under the guise of safety. My son, like many others, didn’t get addicted to kratom because he was looking for trouble — he got addicted because he was told it wasn’t one.
We are advocating for a ban because current “regulation” has failed. The status quo is not working, and voluntary compliance hasn’t saved lives. If a bill like SB154 can prevent even one family from experiencing the heartbreak we’ve endured, then it’s worth fighting for.
Thank you again for the conversation — even when we disagree, these discussions are necessary.
Joseph’s Mom
Forever 38 💔
Ive taken kratom everyday for 5 years it is a safe alternative to opioids if it’s the natural kratom and not synthetic form.ive never been to the hospital I’ve never lost jobs I’ve been more functional and better than I’ve ever been.before I was on opiates like fentanyl and heroin I lost jobs and my relationships and my life was destroyed. kratom saved my life you shouldnt ban it. If your 21 and over you should be able to buy it if your not a responsible enough adult you shouldn’t by it and that is the choice of an individual if that is the case then alcohol should be banned it’s way more harmful and destructive.the arguments against kratom are ridiculous and incredibly ignorant.