By Chad Timblin, Coralville
I’m writing about HF 2133, the bill to ban kratom in Iowa.
I’m a Coralville resident who uses kratom tea a few times a week from a reputable company that lab-tests its products. It’s a meaningful quality of life benefit for me, and I’m one of thousands of Iowans who use this plant responsibly.
The Iowa House just voted 69-26 to classify kratom as a Schedule I substance, making simple possession a criminal offense. A bipartisan amendment to regulate kratom instead (with age restrictions, lab testing, and labeling requirements) narrowly failed 44-51. That amendment was the right approach.
Prohibition won’t eliminate demand. It will push the market underground, remove every consumer safety control, and criminalize responsible adults. Rhode Island learned this lesson and became the first state to reverse its kratom ban last year, replacing it with a regulatory framework. Iowa should follow that example, not repeat the mistake.
SF 2192, the Senate companion bill, is now on the calendar and could come up for a vote at any time. I urge Iowa senators to reject prohibition and pursue regulation instead. If the goal is truly to protect Iowans, make the product safer; don’t drive it underground.
