TENNESSEE’S KRATOM BAN TO TAKE EFFECT ON JULY 1ST
Tennessee will ban kratom from store shelves starting July 1 after lawmakers labeled the substance “gas station heroin” due to its addictive potential. Business owners like Paul DiBrito of Kats Botanicals anticipate significant losses, including thousands of customers and over $5 million in annual revenue from the state, prompting him to cut supply and relocate his warehouse to Kentucky.
Meanwhile, addiction recovery advocates at Renew Clinic express concern that the ban could drive users back to opioids, as many have relied on kratom to manage withdrawal or quit harder drugs. Although long-term benefits are hoped for, short-term risks include severe kratom withdrawal—described by some as worse than heroin—and a potential rise in opioid use in areas like Knoxville where opioid trends had been improving.
Clinic officials are urging people to prepare and seek professional help before the ban takes effect.
