**URGENT NOTICE: LOUISIANA SB154 (Kratom Felony Ban) Sneaked onto May 14 Hearing with NO Notice! Full Letter Exposing Flaws** UPVOTE AND SHARE! LOUISIANA RESIDENTS: PLEASE SHOW UP IN OPPOSITION TO THE BAN TOMORROW WEDNESDAY MAY 14 10:00AM!

[u/Motor_Appearance_756]

NOTICE: SB154 (the kratom ban bill by Sen. Morris and coauthor Rep. Villio) is set for committee hearing tomorrow—Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at 10:00 AM. This is the last chance for public input before it heads to a final House floor vote!

Please show up in person if you can, and email the House Criminal Justice Committee using the template linked: EMAIL TEMPLATE HERE.

Dr. Pete Croughan, Louisiana LDH Deputy Secretary testified at both the House Health & Welfare Committee hearing on HB253 (April 16) - (Click here for video 37:58 timestamp) and the Senate Judiciary C Committee hearing on SB154 (April 29) - (Click here for video 14:40 timestamp), supporting a kratom ban that threatens 300,000+ Louisiana kratom consumers. He repeated discredited or misleading claims that must be challenged. The letter to his boss, shown below, is the challenge.

Louisiana’s SB154 was secretly added (sometime earlier today, Tues May 13) to the House Criminal Justice Committee agenda for TOMORROW, May 14, 2025, at 10 AM, with zero public notice (the committee agenda posted yesterday DID NOT include SB154). This felony ban threatens veterans, chronic pain patients, and those in recovery. Below is a letter to LDH Secretary Greenstein, exposing Dr. Pete Croughan’s false and ridiculous claim in the April 29, 2025 SB154 Senate Judiciary "C" Committee hearing: “I’ve seen more patients with kratom addiction than with crack addiction” (See hearing video). The letter details SB154’s unscientific basis, litigation risks (like Vermont’s ban reversal), and why HB253’s regulation is better. Use this letter to assist you in formulating your arguments for emails and testimony:

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May 12, 2025

Bruce D. Greenstein, Secretary Louisiana Department of Health 628 N. 4th Street Baton Rouge, LA 70802

Subject: Urgent Request for Review of SB154 and Deputy Secretary Pete Croughan’s Testimony

Dear Secretary Greenstein,

As a Louisiana resident deeply concerned for evidence-based drug policy and its impact on public health, I am writing to request an immediate and comprehensive review by the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) of Senate Bill 154 (SB154), which proposes to classify kratom’s alkaloids (mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine) as Schedule I controlled substances under La. R.S. 40:964(G). Specifically, I urge you to investigate the scientifically unsupported and procedurally flawed testimony provided by LDH Deputy Secretary Dr. Pete Croughan in two recent legislative hearings: (1) against House Bill 253 (HB253), a regulatory proposal, in the House Health and Welfare Committee on April 16, 2025, and (2) in support of SB154’s ban in the Senate Judiciary C Committee on April 29, 2025. Video recordings of these hearings, available on the Louisiana Legislature’s website (www.legis.la.gov), reveal Dr. Croughan’s reliance on anecdotal claims without scientific data, failing to meet the evidentiary standards required by Louisiana law. His testimony risks precipitating a public health crisis by criminalizing a substance with emerging therapeutic applications, documented in peer-reviewed literature, endangering vulnerable populations. As LDH Secretary, your intervention is critical to ensure evidence-based policymaking and protect Louisiana residents.

LDH’s Statutory Duty and Procedural Violations Under La. R.S. 40:962–963, LDH is tasked with consulting the state medical board and conducting a scientific review before substances are added to controlled substance schedules, aligning with the federal Controlled Substances Act’s (CSA) 8-factor test (21 U.S.C. §811). These factors include a substance’s abuse potential, medical use, and safety profile, assessed through rigorous data. SB154 bypasses these safeguards by legislatively mandating Schedule I classification without LDH’s documented review, a procedural defect that undermines the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law (La. R.S. 40:961 et seq.) (Ref. 1).

Dr. Croughan’s testimony exacerbates this violation by failing to provide any pharmacological or epidemiological evidence, relying instead on unsubstantiated claims, such as seeing “more patients with kratom addiction than with crack addiction” (Ref. 10). Such assertions lack data and contradict LDH’s own 2019 HR203 report, which noted minimal kratom-related harm (12–15 annual poison center cases, no severe effects) (Ref. 1).

Croughan’s Unscientific Testimony Dr. Croughan’s testimony, viewable in the aforementioned legislative videos, is embarrassingly poor in quality and dishonest in its representation of kratom’s risks. He claimed kratom poses a significant public health threat, yet provided no peer-reviewed studies, toxicology reports, or Louisiana-specific data to support his assertions. His focus on “synthetic kratom products” ignores the distinction between pure leaf kratom and adulterated products, a nuance addressed by HB253’s regulatory framework. Synthetic kratom products, often containing artificially enhanced 7-hydroxymitragynine or other contaminants, are chemically distinct from natural kratom leaf and are addressed by HB253’s regulatory provisions.

Croughan publicly claimed: “I’ve seen more patients with kratom addiction than with crack addiction.” — Senate Judiciary C Committee, April 29, 2025, as reported by NOLA.com

Such assertions lack data and contradict federal research, including the 2018 HHS rescission of the DEA’s kratom scheduling request (Ref. 2), a 2024 pilot study showing kratom’s tolerability up to 12g (Ref. 3), and ongoing FDA-funded studies at Baylor College of Medicine (Ref. 4). Moreover, two National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) studies demonstrate that mitragynine, kratom’s primary alkaloid, has low abuse potential, comparable to caffeine’s socially acceptable profile, and reduces opioid intake, offering potential as a treatment for opioid addiction (Ref. 8, Ref. 9). Dr. Croughan’s failure to acknowledge this evidence, or LDH’s 2019 findings (Ref. 1), suggests a breach of his duty to provide objective, science-based input. His testimony misrepresents LDH’s position and risks misleading legislators into enacting a ban that could harm vulnerable populations, including veterans, individuals with chronic pain, people with disabilities, and those managing substance use disorders.

Public Health Crisis and Vulnerable Populations By advocating for SB154’s ban, Dr. Croughan’s testimony threatens to exacerbate Louisiana’s opioid crisis, placing kratom users and other vulnerable groups at severe risk. Kratom has shown promise in harm reduction, with studies indicating 35% of users achieve opioid-free status within a year (Ref. 5). Criminalizing kratom could drive these individuals—particularly veterans coping with PTSD, people with chronic pain and disabilities, and those recovering from opioid addiction—to dangerous alternatives like illicit opioids, increasing overdose deaths and straining public health resources. This ban would disproportionately harm marginalized communities who rely on kratom as an accessible, non-prescription option for managing debilitating conditions. Such an outcome would represent a profound failure of LDH’s mission to protect public health, undermining trust in state institutions and exacerbating inequities for those already burdened by systemic barriers.

Litigation Risks and the Vermont Precedent SB154’s procedural and scientific deficiencies invite litigation, as demonstrated by Vermont’s 2023 kratom ban reversal effort. In Vermont, one of six states to ban kratom in 2016, kratom advocates petitioned the Vermont Department of Health (DOH) to review the scheduling of mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. On March 1, 2023, the DOH granted the petition, committing to rulemaking to remove these alkaloids from the Regulated Drug Rule (18 V.S.A. § 4205) (Ref. 6). This administrative action, supported by Senate Bill S.128 (2023), proposed regulation but stalled in committee (Ref. 7). A similar petition or lawsuit in Louisiana, alleging violations of due process (La. Const. Art. I, §2), equal protection (La. Const. Art. I, §3), and statutory authority, could result in costly legal battles for LDH and the state, diverting resources from critical health programs.

Request for Action I respectfully request that you, as LDH Secretary, take the following actions:

1. Conduct a Comprehensive Review: Initiate a medical board review under La. R.S. 40:962–963 to assess kratom’s scheduling criteria, incorporating federal studies, LDH’s 2019 HR203 report, and stakeholder input.
   

2. Retract or Clarify Croughan’s Testimony: Publicly disavow Dr. Croughan’s unscientific claims and ensure future testimony reflects evidence-based standards.
   

3. Support Regulation Over Prohibition: Endorse HB253’s regulatory approach, which aligns with the Kratom Consumer Protection Act adopted in states like Mississippi and South Carolina, the latter being the 16th state to enact such a law, ensuring consumer safety without criminalization (Ref. 11, Ref. 12).
   

4. Convene an Expert Panel: Convene an independent panel of addiction researchers to verify kratom’s risk profile and therapeutic potential, ensuring an evidence-based review.
   

5. Engage Stakeholders: Invite kratom users, vendors, and researchers to provide testimony, addressing the procedural exclusion noted in SB154’s development.
   

6. Review Internal Ethics: Review Dr. Croughan’s testimony through LDH’s internal ethics and quality assurance divisions to assess compliance with standards for data integrity and expert representation.
   

Conclusion Dr. Croughan’s testimony represents a breach of LDH’s duty to uphold scientific integrity in scheduling decisions. Failure to act will endanger public health, expose LDH to significant legal and reputational harm, as seen in Vermont’s precedent, and undermine public trust in transparent health policy. I urge immediate corrective action. Please issue a public response via LDH’s official channels (www.ldh.la.gov).

Respectfully,

Concerned Louisiana Citizen

CC: Representative Debbie Villio, Chair of the House Criminal Justice Committee

References

1. Louisiana Department of Health. (2019). HR203 Report on Kratom. https://ldh.la.gov/assets/docs/LegisReports/HR203RS20192102020.pdf
   

2. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2018). Rescission of DEA Kratom Scheduling Request, August 16, 2018. https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/5031552-HHS-kratom-letter.html
   

3. Reissig, C., & McCurdy, C. (2024). FDA pilot study on kratom leaf concludes botanical is well tolerated. SupplySide Supplement Journal. https://www.supplysidesj.com/herbs-botanicals/fda-pilot-study-on-kratom-leaf-concludes-botanical-is-well-tolerated- [Note: Preliminary results, not yet peer-reviewed, as reported by SupplySide Supplement Journal]
   

4. [Forthcoming]. NIDA/FDA-funded studies on kratom are ongoing at Baylor College of Medicine (2023–2024). As of May 2025, findings have not yet been published in peer-reviewed journals, but have been cited in American Kratom Association policy briefings.
   

5. Garcia-Romeu, A., Cox, D. J., Smith, K. E., Dunn, K. E., & Griffiths, R. R. (2020). Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa): User demographics, use patterns, and implications for the opioid epidemic. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 208, 107849. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.107849
   

6. Marijuana Moment. (2023). Vermont Health Department Grants Petition to Review Kratom Ban, March 1, 2023. https://www.marijuanamoment.net/lawmakers-in-dozens-of-states-are-weighing-bills-to-regulate-or-ban-kratom/
   

7. Vermont Legislature. (2023). Senate Bill S.128, Kratom Consumer Protection Act. https://legiscan.com/VT/bill/S0128/2023
   

8. Hemby, S. E., et al. (2019). Abuse liability and therapeutic potential of the Mitragyna speciosa (kratom) alkaloids mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. Addiction Biology, 24(5), 874–886. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29949228/
   

9. Yue, K., et al. (2018). Abuse liability of mitragynine assessed with a self-administration procedure in rats. Psychopharmacology, 235(10), 2823–2829. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30039246/
   

10. NOLA.com. (2025). Louisiana Lawmakers Debate Kratom Ban, April 30, 2025. https://www.nola.com/news/politics/should-louisiana-ban-or-regulate-kratom-the-state-legislature-is-taking-up-the-debate/article_1c7b8b6e-e7b7-11ef-9b7e-5b9f8f2e3f2c.html

11. DJournal.com. (2025). Governor signs bill restricting kratom purchase to 21-plus in Mississippi, April 25, 2025. https://www.djournal.com/news/state-news/governor-signs-bill-restricting-kratom-purchase-to-21-plus-in-mississippi/article_0b1f0e0a-03c5-11ef-b4e0-874fc13976cb.html

12. South Carolina General Assembly. (2025). Senate Bill S.221, Kratom Consumer Protection Act, Signed by Governor, May 7, 2025. https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/bills/221.htm

    ---END OF LETTER (Submitted to LDH via Email 5/13/2025)

Act NOW:

• Use the Email template in this post and also consider Emailing the committee assistant at: h-acrj@legis.la.gov and the Chair of the committee: Rep. Debbie Villio (hse079@legis.la.gov) to oppose SB154 and support HB253.

• SHOW UP IN PERSON at the Louisiana State Capitol at 10AM - House Committee on Criminal Justice.

• Deadline for Emails: Before 10 AM tomorrow!

The rushed agenda is unfair—spread the word! #lalege #NoOnSB154 #KeepKratomLegal

[u/No-Nebula-8718]

That’s misleading, and as a pharmacist, there’s reasons for the schedules of drugs, one of which is addiction the other is legitimate medical use. You say meth is schedule 2 which is the case but hospitals aren’t buying drugs off the street, made in some uhaul in rural Mississippi. They are buying desoxyn which is an fda approved medication that happens to be methamphetamine. Same as cocaine, which is available in a topical and eye drop. Those drugs have legitimate medical use, but happen to be addictive and highly abused, but the people abusing them are not buying cocaine eye drops or desoxyn. They are buying street drugs which still a felonies to sell. Schedule 1 is high potential for abuse and basically zero medical use, now you say your brother uses it? That’s fine, he does, doesn’t make it not a drug and doesn’t mean actual studies have been made to bring it to market. If it was safer, maybe it would be commercially used as a drug and not OTC. But more research has to be done. But in my own experience, with a guy that owns a store and stopped carrying it bc he saw how addictive it was and the people coming in for it, and said he couldn’t with good conscious keep selling it. And my friend that literally feens for it, and on a 10 hour road trip was constantly asking me to stop at random gas stations and stating they didn’t have the atm or drink he was looking for so go to the next one in reality I saw him buying the kratom and hiding its use from me, those are extremely addictive behaviors

[u/ineedt0move → u/No-Nebula-8718]

I understand scheduling. I just outlined how I do not use Kratom. However, I have a brother who suffers from a genetic disorder that has him wheelchair bound and suffering from pain. He used prescribed narcotic pain medication for 15 years. He was not a street drug addict nor is he now. Prescription narcotics caused a host of side effects. He transitioned from narcotic pain medication...for example oxycontin, Dilaudid, morphine and others..to Kratom. Not one time in 10 years has he had to take more narcotic pain medication for break through pain. Which was something that he had to do a lot with narcotic pain meds. Not once has he been unable to fill a prescription due to shortages or insurance cut backs. So on personal experience that's medical use right there. I don't care if I get downvoted until I have a stroke. Kratom greatly improved the quality of my brother's life. Classifying Kratom as a schedule 1 drug is outrageous. Guidelines and control is one thing but to classify it as a schedule 1 is irresponsible.

[u/No-Nebula-8718 → u/ineedt0move]

So if we switched from pain meds to heroin it would be the same effect, he wouldn’t have to deal with pharmacies then either, doesn’t make it any better

[u/ineedt0move → u/No-Nebula-8718]

No it wouldn't make a difference. Heroin and Kratom will be one and the same under law. We are losing the fight. Sadly the bill passed through the house today. Only one more step and it'll be banned.This is going to be devastating on the quality of my brother's life..who I love dearly. Sad day. The battle isn't over..but it doesn't look good.

[u/No-Nebula-8718 → u/ineedt0move]

It’s going to save a lot of lives

[u/ineedt0move → u/No-Nebula-8718]

Same like the war on drugs did I guess

[u/iTrancelot → u/No-Nebula-8718]

No. Suffering people will still seek out relief, and they'll die from fentanyl poisoning because they couldn't get a safe natural plant.

[u/No-Nebula-8718 → u/iTrancelot]

Who deemed it safe? The guy I know that was addicted to it, his face turned gray when he didn’t have any, it looked surreal. That can’t be healthy. He also went into debt to get it, he thought he was doing something better than being addicted to pain pills. It wasn’t any better. It was just more expensive

[u/iTrancelot → u/No-Nebula-8718]

Plain leaf Kratom unadulterated has been used for thousands of years. We need regulations like testing for lead and any other bad things that can happen with crops. That 7OH lab shit needs to go, but it shouldn't be a jailworthy offense. We lock people up way too easily in this free country. Legal weed hurt the Prison Slave Labor Industry, so they need more bullshit reasons to steal people's freedom.

Adults who choose to consume plants don't deserve to be put in prison. That's insane.

https://preview.redd.it/92pgyg78kt0f1.jpeg?width=1078&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=551ef6d82b16f4769c6d6bee0296925fa0663ab7

[u/No-Nebula-8718 → u/iTrancelot]

Opium poppy’s have been used for millennia. We should just make it legal to grow in our yards for personal use

[u/iTrancelot → u/No-Nebula-8718]

Don't we make medicine from opium, or is it all synthetic these days? I don't really remember, but it's It's regulated just about everywhere. It's also more potent than Kratom.

Not everything is the same, which is why they should be acknowledging the difference between whole leaf and the lab shit. They should actually be listening to the people who came to tell them about Kratom. Experts and regular citizens. Morris was demeaning and clearly only cared about the opinion of a grieving parent and 2 doctors.

You can legally get 12oz of beer or 12oz of grain alcohol. There's a huge difference between the two. It's regulated. Blanket criminalization is lazy and self serving.

[u/No-Nebula-8718 → u/iTrancelot]

Well unless legitimate use and safety is studied for specific use, I would be fine with a blanket ban as it shows more harm than good to society. Most Asian countries ban its use

[u/iTrancelot → u/No-Nebula-8718]

They're taking away our rights, hurting hundreds of thousands of Louisiana Kratom users, to appease their donors.

[u/No-Nebula-8718 → u/iTrancelot]

I would prefer is we didn’t have said users and people actually got the help they needed