Rep. Rick Townsend Recaps Final Meeting of House Blue-Ribbon Study Committee on Youth Exposure to Kratom and Retail-Available Substances in Atlanta

ATLANTA - State Representative Rick Townsend (R-Brunswick) recently convened the fifth and final meeting of the House Blue-Ribbon Study Committee on Youth Exposure to Kratom and Retail-Available Substances on Friday, October 23, 2026, at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta. The study committee has convened five meetings across the state to gather testimony and hear from local communities on this topic ahead of the 2027 legislative session.

"I am proud of the work this study committee has done throughout the interim," said Rep. Townsend. "Over the course of our five meetings, we have heard from individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences with kratom and related substances, examined the facts and considered different perspectives on how to address this issue. During this time, we have also witnessed tragedy as we learned of the deaths of college students in Mississippi. These substances are actively affecting our children, young adults and families, and it is our responsibility as legislators to put legislative guardrails in place that protect Georgians. Today's testimony reinforced many of the concerns we have heard surrounding kratom products, the challenges of enforcement under current law and the need for clear, consistent standards. When we return to the Capitol in January, our goal will be to pursue practical legislative solutions that prioritize public safety, hold bad actors accountable and ensure our state has the resources and tools necessary to enforce the law."

Rep. Townsend began the meeting with a recap of the previous meeting in Waco, Ga. and recent developments, including public safety concerns and the need for consistent product identification and testing procedures. Rep. Townsend cited approximately 20,000 vaping incidents across 6-12 Georgia schools last year. He then referenced recent developments related to kratom, including Effingham County's restrictions on kratom, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr's call for a ban, the Mississippi lieutenant governor's call for a complete kratom ban and recent FDA action addressing 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH).

The study committee then heard from several presenters, including Michael Karnbach, director of the Georgia Drugs and Narcotics Agency (GDNA), who discussed the challenges of regulating kratom through pharmacies. He explained that moving kratom behind the counter or limiting sales to pharmacies would require reliable product sourcing, accurate labeling, identification procedures and pharmacist education. Because kratom is not currently a standard component of pharmacy education, he noted that pharmacists would need credible information about its safety, efficacy and appropriate use. He also highlighted concerns about professional liability, malpractice insurance and whether pharmacists could verify the integrity and approval status of products.

Dr. Gaylord Lopez, director of the Georgia Poison Center, presented information on reported kratom exposures and associated health concerns. He explained that kratom products vary in composition and that mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine interact with opioid receptors. Dr. Lopez stated that nationwide poison-center reports increased from 258 in 2015 to 3,803 in 2025, while Georgia reports increased from 65 in 2021 to 315 in 2026. He advocated for considering a comprehensive ban covering both botanical kratom and synthetic or chemically altered products.

Jerry Keen, president and CEO of Joe Tanner & Associates, representing the American Kratom Association and consumers, emphasized that enforcement and product accountability are essential to addressing the current regulatory challenges. He noted concerns about unsafe packaging and products marketed as natural kratom despite being chemically altered and proposed using QR codes to provide information about product contents. He also emphasized the need to designate an agency responsible for enforcement and ensure that local authorities have the resources to address noncompliant products.

Attorney General Chris Carr discussed kratom and Georgia's efforts to address substance use and the opioid crisis. He stated that concentrated 7-OH products are being sold in gas stations and smoke shops and emphasized their accessibility to children, teenagers and people in recovery. He proposed reversing the current regulatory model by prohibiting kratom products unless companies demonstrate that they meet state-established standards for testing, labeling and product integrity. Under this proposal, the state would maintain a list or registry of approved products, while products that fail to meet the requirements could be treated as contraband.

Additionally, Michael Mumper, executive director of Georgians for Responsible Marijuana Policy, recommended that Georgia require scientific review of marijuana products before they can be sold, including plant material, extracts, converted cannabinoids and synthetic products. He proposed establishing a multidisciplinary scientific panel composed of public health officials, toxicologists, addiction specialists, people in recovery and public safety experts to categorize products by risk and recommend appropriate regulations.

Lastly, Barry Hendson, founder and president of Recovering Connections Inc., focused on the impact of kratom on young people and individuals recovering from substance use disorders. He noted that product packaging may lead consumers to believe kratom is safe and described cases involving dependence, withdrawal, financial costs and difficulties accessing detoxification services. He stated that retail kratom products should not become substitutes for medical treatment and that if Georgia does not adopt a ban, then there should be youth restrictions, compliance checks, accountability for online sellers, independent product testing, accurate labeling and public education.

Rep. Townsend adjourned the meeting after opening the floor up to public testimony.

The study committee is charged with submitting a committee report to the Speaker's Office, which will be posted here.

A recording of the study committee meeting may be found here.

Representative Rick Townsend represents the citizens of District 179, which includes a portion of Glynn County. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2022 and currently serves as Secretary of the Natural Resources & Environment Committee. He also serves on the Economic Development & Tourism, Education and Judiciary, Juvenile committees.

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