Bill > H4636

This bill seeks to classify kratom, a tropical plant from the coffee family, as a Schedule I controlled substance in South Carolina due to potential health risks. The bill finds that kratom contains psychoactive substances that interact with opioid receptors, is not FDA-approved, and is associated with serious health concerns including addiction, liver injury, seizures, and deaths. Specifically, the bill amends existing state law to add kratom and all its derivatives, salts, and chemical equivalents to the list of Schedule I controlled substances, defining kratom as any part of the mitragyna speciosa plant. Additionally, the bill repeals the existing South Carolina Kratom Consumer Protection Act, effectively eliminating any previous legal protections for kratom use or sale. The changes will take effect six months after the Governor's approval, providing a transition period for residents and businesses to adjust to the new legal status of kratom.