North Carolina lawmaker pushes for regulation of Kratom sales

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — An Iredell County state representative says more needs to be done to regulate the sale of products that contain Kratom.

The Southeast Asian plant has traditionally been used to treat various ailments. But both lawmakers and sellers argue that the rise of uncontrolled, highly potent synthetics poses a danger to public health.

According to Rep. Jeff McNeely, North Carolina has become the wild west when it comes to Kratom. While acknowledging the plant can be used to treat anxiety and PTSD, he argued unregulated synthetics can be dangerously concentrated and contain unknown ingredients. That is why he filed House Bill 468, legislation that would regulate the sale and distribution of Kratom products.

“We have no regulations on it, so that 12-year-old kid peddles his bike up to the store, can go in and purchase that product along with any of the other CBD cannabis products, hemp products that are out there,” said McNeely.

Michael Sims, who owns Crowntown Dispensary in the Charlotte area, described some of the brands on the market as “gas station heroin.”

Sims carries a line of products containing Kratom, but insists he only uses a single brand that can verify its ingredients.

“This is for people with chronic pain. This is for people looking to get off opioids. I do not recommend this recreationally, I do not recommend this just to try for fun to see what it does,” said Sims.

Sims supports regulation but opposes an outright ban.

“It needs to be reasonably regulated and let adults make the decisions of what is best for them or not, but banning them does nothing but cause more problems,” he added.

While McNeely’s legislation stalled in Raleigh this year, he expects to get it across the finish line during a shortened session in April 2026.