COLUMBUS — Gov. Mike DeWine on Monday called on the state Board of Pharmacy to immediately classify all natural and synthetic kratom compounds as illegal drugs, a move that would make Ohio the first state to comprehensively ban the Southeast Asian plant and its derivatives.

DeWine said the action is necessary because synthetic versions of kratom have become “essentially legal, over-the-counter opiates that anyone – including kids – can buy with just a few bucks.”

The governor’s proposal would designate kratom as a Schedule I substance, requiring all establishments selling kratom products to remove them from shelves.

Kratom, which is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for consumption or medical use, is often marketed as a treatment for chronic pain, opioid dependence a

See Full Page