CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Ohio Board of Pharmacy is meeting Wednesday morning to discuss the future of kratom and its legal availability in Ohio.

Kratom is often dubbed a "health supplement" and "herbal remedy" by proponents.

However, the street name for the synthetic form of it is "gas station heroin." Gov. Mike DeWine wants kratom off the streets and to make it illegal.

News 5 has covered the heated debate over kratom and its benefits, or lack thereof, according to some, for years.

DeWine says there are countless health hazards.

In some instances, he says, users have died from it.

The Ohio Department of Health reports 200 unintentional Overdose deaths involving kratom occurred from 2019-2024.

If approved by The Ohio Board of Pharmacy, Ohio would become the first state to outlaw the

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