Louisiana Kratom Ban Passes Senate; House to Vote

Senate Bill 154 has passed the Louisiana Senate and is now up for a vote in the House. The partisan Republican bill, introduced by State Senator Jay Morris (R), seeks to criminalize the possession, production, and distribution of kratom.

It was voted 26 Yay to 11 Nay votes in the Senate. All senators voting in favor of the bill were Republican, all opposing the bill were Democrats.

Historically on a national level, Republicans have generally advocated for stronger enforcement, harsher penalties, and federal regulations on substances like marijuana, often opposing legalization efforts. They have also emphasized drug education and treatment programs, but their approach has traditionally leaned toward criminalization rather than harm reduction.

Democrats, on the other hand, have gradually shifted toward more lenient drug policies, especially in recent decades. They have been more likely to support decriminalization, legalization of marijuana, and harm-reduction strategies such as needle exchange programs and rehabilitation-focused approaches.

In addition to being heavily Republican, Louisiana also has a for-profit prison system that incentivizes local sheriffs to keep parish jails filled. Adding another substance to Louisiana's long list of controlled substances makes this task all that easier.

The American Kratom Association is urging people to contact Louisiana officials. In an all-caps message posted on X on Wednesday May 7th, the AKA said:

The bill is not yet on the Louisiana House agenda for a vote.

Should the bill become law, it will go into effect on August 1, 2025.