COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is asking the Ohio Board of Pharmacy to immediately ban all synthetic kratom compounds, while beginning a longer rulemaking process that could eventually restrict natural kratom as well.

DeWine announced Thursday in a news release his renewed ask to the state's pharmacy board to use an emergency rule to designate “all synthetic kratom compounds and other dangerous compounds derived from the active ingredient in kratom” as illegal drugs.

“In reviewing this issue over the past few weeks, national experts, including the FDA, agree that synthetic kratom compounds should be scheduled as illegal,” DeWine said in a statement. “However, while there is a clear path to take action on synthetic kratom, I still have deep concerns about natural kratom, given the

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