Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch urged a statewide ban on kratom after police linked kratom-related packages found near two deceased University of Mississippi students to a local business. Two suspects have been arrested in connection with alleged kratom sales and a third remains at large. Autopsy and toxicology results are pending and expected next week, and Fitch said she will push legislation to ban kratom in all forms, citing public-health concerns and limited federal regulation.
Mississippi Attorney General Urges Statewide Kratom Ban After Two Ole Miss Students Found Dead
Mississippi AG pushing for kratom ban after students’ deaths
Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch said the state should pursue a full ban on kratom after police discovered kratom-related packages near the bodies of two University of Mississippi students and traced those packages to a local business.
Aidan Hamilton, 18, and Robert Strang, 20, were found at two separate locations on the Ole Miss campus on Sept. 21. Authorities say kratom—an herbal product sometimes sold at gas stations—was found close to both scenes. Two people were arrested last week in connection with alleged illegal narcotics sales that investigators say included kratom; a third suspect remains at large.
Attorney General Calls For Legislative Action
"We have supported in the past banning that in our state," Fitch said on "Katie Pavlich Tonight." "We'll certainly be promoting legislation as well this next session to ban it in all forms as well. We know we can see all the side effects and how detrimental that can be. And certainly we've got to address that issue."
Fitch noted Mississippi already prohibits the sale of kratom products to anyone under 21, and sellers who violate that restriction can be charged. She also emphasized that kratom remains largely unregulated at the federal level, complicating public-health oversight.
Investigations and Pending Tests
Law enforcement officials are awaiting autopsy and toxicology reports from the state medical examiner's office and have not yet determined the cause or manner of death for either Hamilton or Strang. Mississippi Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell said toxicology results are expected next week.
What Is Kratom?
Kratom is an herbal substance derived from the leaves of the Southeast Asian tree Mitragyna speciosa. It is sold in various forms and can have stimulant effects at low doses and opioid-like effects at higher doses. Public-health officials and some lawmakers have raised concerns about its safety, potential for dependence, and the lack of consistent regulation or product testing.
Authorities continue to investigate the connection between the kratom packages and the local business, and updates will be released as toxicology and investigative findings become available.
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