On May 27, 2025, the Louisiana House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 154, criminalizing the possession and sale of kratom statewide. The final vote—87 in favor, 6 opposed—marked the culmination of weeks of emotionally charged hearings, misinformation campaigns, and ultimately, a rejection of both scientific evidence and proposed compromise amendments that sought to regulate rather than ban.
Kratom, a plant from Southeast Asia, has been used for centuries for its pain-relieving and mood-enhancing properties. In the U.S., it has developed a loyal following among those who’ve turned to it as an alternative to opioids, alcohol, and prescription medications. The American Kratom Association estimates more than 300,000 Louisianans use kratom regularly.
The Push to Prohibit
SB 154 was spearheaded by Senator Jay Morris, who claimed kratom posed a public safety risk, citing anecdotal evidence and emotional testimony—including that of a grieving mother who attributed her son’s suicide to kratom withdrawal. But critics were quick to point out that science does not support the narrative being pushed.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and peer-reviewed research have shown that kratom is rarely the sole cause of overdose deaths. In nearly every case where kratom has been listed as a contributing factor, other substances—such as fentanyl, benzodiazepines, or alcohol—were also present. Even the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services rejected a federal ban in 2018, noting the lack of sufficient evidence and warning that prohibition could actually increase harm by pushing users back toward opioids.
Recent research continues to reinforce that kratom does not behave like traditional opioids. A 2024 study published in Frontiers in Pharmacology found that mitragynine—the primary active compound in kratom—did not cause respiratory depression in animal models, even at high doses. This is a crucial distinction, as respiratory depression is the primary cause of death in opioid overdoses. The study concluded that kratom’s unique pharmacology may explain its lower risk profile, especially when compared to substances like oxycodone or heroin.
A Missed Opportunity for Compromise
Recognizing the complexity of the issue, several lawmakers introduced amendments that would have banned only the most concerning kratom products—namely, the high-potency extract “shots” often sold at convenience stores—while preserving access to pure kratom leaf and powder. These amendments would have imposed age restrictions, testing requirements, and labeling standards similar to those in other states like Utah and Texas.
But the House rejected these amendments without significant debate, opting instead for the most extreme version of the bill—total criminalization. No scientists, addiction researchers, or public health experts were brought in to testify. No attempt was made to reconcile the concerns of the recovery community with those of law enforcement or regulators.
The message was clear: ban first, ask questions later.
Local Leaders Speak Out
The vote fractured the New Orleans delegation. Representatives Mandie Landry (District 91), Aimee Adatto Freeman (District 98), Delisha Boyd (District 102), and Candace Newell (District 99) voted against the bill. The rest—Jason Hughes, Matthew Willard, Alonzo Knox, and Stephanie Hilferty—voted in favor, aligning with the majority despite vocal pushback from constituents.
Among those sounding the alarm is Hannah Jones, a New Orleans resident and vocal advocate for harm reduction.
“Taking away harm reduction aids like kratom will have an extremely bad negative response on the community of New Orleans and the recovery community in general,” she said. “I believe in the regulation of things. However, thinking that this will solve the problems of addiction is like putting a band-aid on a bullet wound. I don’t think people fully understand that if you take this away, many people will go back to anti-anxiety meds and painkillers, which have a higher death and addiction rate.”
Her sentiment is echoed by small business owners and recovery advocates across the state. One local entrepreneur, who owns Euphorbia—the only kava bar in Louisiana—explained how devastating this could be not just for businesses, but for the communities they serve.
“This is the worst possible outcome,” the owner said. “We offered a safer alternative to alcohol and drugs. Now the state just handed that market to the black market.”
Button Sherer, who works at a kava bar in Louisiana that also serves kratom drinks, emphasized just how important these spaces are for healing and community:
“The people that come in here are from all kinds of different backgrounds. The one general commonality is that it’s people trying to better themselves. People getting off of painkillers, or hard opiates, people in physical pain, or those that are cutting back/quitting drinking. It’s a place outside of a bar to socialize and relax from the stressful world we live in but remain as functioning adults, functioning professionals.
I have a few friends that can thank kratom for still being alive. I myself can thank kratom for being alive still—for getting out of a dangerous painkiller and alcohol addiction. Painkillers prescribed by a dentist after severe dental trauma.
Banning all kratom instead of regulating adulterated kratom often found in gas stations is gonna cause relapses. It’s going to cause many more deaths of other people’s sons and daughters when they turn back to the heavy substances they’ve tried so hard to get off.
The inaccessible healthcare, the street drugs laced with fentanyl, the mental health crisis in Louisiana—these are all things that a ban on kratom altogether will worsen. Regulation is welcomed, but a full ban will be devastating.”
What Happens Next?
With passage in both chambers secured, SB 154 now heads to Governor Jeff Landry’s desk. If signed, the ban will take effect August 1, 2025. The bill makes possession of over 14 grams of kratom punishable by up to five years in prison with or without hard labor. Possession under that amount carries a $500 fine. All forms of kratom—including capsules, tea, powder, and shots—would become illegal.
But the fight is not over.
Advocates Regroup: The Push to Revive HB 253
I spoke with multiple kratom advocates who say they are already organizing to revive House Bill 253—a competing bill that would have created a regulatory framework for kratom instead of banning it. HB 253 would have required testing, labeling, age restrictions, and bans on adulterated products. Advocates are urging lawmakers to bring it back to the floor before the session ends.
Because if SB 154 becomes law without any regulatory alternative, Louisiana will have moved not just backward—but blindly.
What You Can Do
If you are one of the 300,000 Louisianans who use kratom—or if you believe in evidence-based drug policy—you can still make a difference. Governor Jeff Landry has not yet signed SB 154. Contact his office and urge him to veto the bill. Encourage your representatives to support HB 253 or any regulatory alternative that puts safety and public health before politics.
You can also share your story publicly, organize with others in the kratom or recovery community, and stay updated through organizations like the American Kratom Association.
