On Tuesday, June 3, Louisiana residents will gather at the State Capitol at 2:00 p.m. for the “Don’t Criminalize Me” rally, urging Governor Jeff Landry to veto Senate Bill 154, a measure that would criminalize the possession and use of kratom across the state.
Kratom, a plant used by an estimated 325,000 Louisianans, is commonly taken for chronic pain, anxiety, or to manage withdrawal from opioids and alcohol. If signed into law, SB 154 would classify kratom’s primary alkaloids—mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine—as Schedule I controlled substances, placing them in the same category as heroin and making possession a felony offense.
Advocates argue this approach is misguided and harmful. Citing peer-reviewed studies, they point to research showing kratom’s relatively low toxicity, especially when unadulterated, and its potential use as a harm-reduction alternative. A 2020 study in Clinical Toxicology found that serious adverse effects were rare and most often associated with kratom products mixed with other substances. Another survey published by Johns Hopkins researchers found that many kratom users report positive impacts on their mental and physical health.
Despite this, SB 154 has advanced rapidly through the Legislature. In response, rally organizers are calling on the Governor to reject the ban and instead establish a Louisiana Kratom Commission. The proposed commission would study kratom’s safety profile, address concerns about contaminated or synthetic products, and recommend science-based regulations, including age restrictions and labeling requirements.
Supporters say the goal is not to avoid regulation, but to prevent unnecessary criminalization of citizens who use kratom responsibly.
The rally will feature signs, banners, and personal stories from those impacted by the proposed ban. The American Kratom Association is coordinating outreach and encouraging media to attend and cover the event.
Rally Details:
Location: Louisiana State Capitol, 900 North 3rd Street, Baton Rouge, LA
Time: Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at 2:00 PM CT
Contact:
Mac Haddow
American Kratom Association
press@americankratom.org | (571) 294-5978
Kratom has helped me to live again with pain and maintaining a job for 6 years now. I really hope this ban is lifted bc I’m afraid of having to go back to pain management.
My 22 year old son Matthew Eller died from KRATOM POWDER (the least potent form of Kratom available in the United States). Kratom caused him to have a seizure, go into cardiac arrest and die. His toxicology showed he died from the “TOXIC effects of Mitragynine” an alkaloid found only in kratom. He had no prescription drugs, no street drugs nor alcohol in his system when he died, and his autopsy showed he had no underlying health conditions.
I’m very sorry for your son’s death, and I don’t believe that Kratom is harmless. The truth is that someone dying from natural Kratom powder is extremely rare – someone included to having seizures makes them more susceptible. It’s very unfortunate. This is why we believe it should be regulated, tested and there should be age restrictions. Banning kratom is not going to solve the underlying problem. It’s going to make it much worse. Many people addicted to kratom will wean themselves off, but many others will now inevitably resort to deadlier substances like fentanyl. Also, there will be a black market for Kratom and the product will become much more dangerous. There is an out to be a backlash and an epidemic that will kill many many more people because of this ban. This is about harm reduction. I’ve spoken with many many doctors, including one today. They understand the mentality of an addict. Banning a substance that 325,000 Louisianians regularly use is not the answer.
Landry don’t care about criminalizing hard working Louisiana’s, it’s going to make $$ with the arrest,D.A., drug court s
We truly feel for those who have lost a love in any form. Very Heartbreaking. Ours hearts and prayers are with you. Being in the Kratom business for over 15years and being a consumer for over 12years. I have witness many testimonials from hard-working people like myself, the person who was an addict that is now a model resident, and the veteran who served our country that relies on Kratom to help with their pain management and PTSD. But are we truly prepared to witness the further destruction this will cause. So sad especially when you have states all over the country passing their version of the KCPA act and becoming model states for our country to become the true fighter against the bad actors and the very adulterated products that do nothing but cause harm. Governor Landry respect your citizens especially your veterans and listen to the facts and science, not the political narratives and lies. Good public policy will only make for a great Louisiana. Listen to the American Kratom Association (AKA) and real testimony. Criminalizing your people is not the answer. Please Veto SB154 and look at what we have better to offer. They will be a more powerful Kratom Story to come. Stay Tune In. Kratom Saves Lives Period.
We truly feel for those who have lost a love in any form. Very Heartbreaking. Ours hearts and prayers are with you. Being in the Kratom business for over 15years and being a consumer for over 12years. I have witness many testimonials from hard-working people like myself, the person who was an addict that is now a model resident, and the veteran who served our country that relies on Kratom to help with their pain management and PTSD. But are we truly prepared to witness the further destruction this will cause. So sad especially when you have states all over the country passing their version of the KCPA act and becoming model states for our country to become the true fighter against the bad actors and the very adulterated products that do nothing but cause harm. Governor Landry respect your citizens especially your veterans and listen to the facts and science, not the political narratives and lies. Good public policy will only make for a great Louisiana. Listen to the American Kratom Association (AKA) and real testimony. Criminalizing your people is not the answer. Please Veto SB154 and look at what we have better to offer. Their will be a more powerful Kratom Story to come. Stay Tune In. Kratom Saves Lives Period.
The number of annual opioid overdose deaths remains more than six times higher than it was in 1999; There were approximately 81,806 opioid overdose deaths last year alone, the fact that people say their loved ones are dying from Powder Leaf I believe is a fabrication, usually there’s other things going on and the autopsy illegal substances such as methamphetamines or heroin and whenever someone has an overdose they look at what the causing factor is and when it comes to a state proposed ban if there is kratom in the body, well thats the deviding factor, I’m sorry that some people say that they have lost loved ones due to Kratom powder but I’m sorry I can’t believe that. I’ve been using Kratom for 10 years and helps with my chronic pain and my PTSD, big Pharma is the ones that will capitalize on this band they have donated thousands to millions of dollars to push bans across the country, send money to senators and Congressman alike to make sure these bans go through because they want people back on their opioids, let’s face facts big Pharma loses money with kratom, and with Kratom gone people are going to have to get their antidepressants their anxiety medication and Pain Relief medication and that’s going to be coming from Big Pharma. The problem with the kratom is synthetics unadulterated products those need to go keep ground leaf Kratom products alive and well so people can take care of themselves naturally and not have to worry and rely on big Pharma the rest of their lives.