Salt Lake City, Utah — A kratom product manufacturer is suing Utah over a new state law that restricts certain forms of the substance, setting up a legal battle over regulation and public health concerns.
Botanic Tonics, an Oklahoma-based company, filed the lawsuit after lawmakers approved a ban on concentrated kratom extracts and products mixed with other substances. The company’s product “Feel Free,” which combines kratom and kava, would be prohibited under the law set to take effect May 6.
State Sen. Mike McKell, who sponsored the legislation, defended the ban, calling the product “one of the most dangerous” sold in the state and citing concerns over addiction and consumer harm.
Kratom, a plant-based substance from Southeast Asia, is often used for pain relief or energy but has drawn scrutiny due to its effects on opioid receptors and links to overdose deaths, typically involving other substances.
Botanic Tonics argues the law conflicts with federal regulations governing dietary supplements and could cost the company more than $10 million. The lawsuit also challenges provisions that effectively ban all kratom products by restricting naturally occurring compounds.
Federal agencies, including the FDA, have warned about kratom’s safety risks but have not fully regulated it, leaving states to adopt varying policies.
Sources:
Discover more from News Facts Network
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
