In a recent development, a group of Republican lawmakers in Wisconsin is reigniting the debate over the legalization of kratom, a plant-based substance often used for pain relief and opioid withdrawal.
Spearheaded by Rep. Dave Murphy and backed by the American Kratom Association, the bill, known as AB 393, aims to legalize and regulate kratom in the state. This comes after a similar bill faced united opposition from law enforcement groups and was struck down in 2021.
Interestingly, at least one law enforcement group, the State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police, has shifted its stance from opposition to neutrality. The group’s president, Ryan Windorff, stated that kratom-related crimes are rare and that the issue should be left to healthcare experts and lawmakers. Both Rep. Murphy and bill co-sponsor Sen. Rachael Cabral-Guevera expressed optimism about bipartisan support for the current bill, signaling a potential turning point in the kratom legalization debate in Wisconsin.