Tennessee Bans Kratom Starting July

Tennessee’s new law, signed by Governor Bill Lee, bans kratom starting July 1st, turning possession into a misdemeanor and selling it—especially to minors—into a felony. Despite being used for pain relief and opioid withdrawal by many adults since 2017, kratom remains unapproved by the FDA. Lawmakers cite safety concerns and the tragic death of Matthew Davenport, who died from a kratom-medication interaction, arguing “natural” doesn’t mean safe. But advocates counter that for chronic pain sufferers and opioid users, kratom has been lifesaving—and they’re pushing for regulation, not criminalization, fearing users will become criminals under this sweeping ban. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/46caf6c512c791a8