Utah lawmakers look poised to consider a bill in the 2026 legislative session that would effectively ban kratom in the state. If a bill passes and gets the governor’s signature, the Beehive State will become the 10th in the nation to ban the controversial substance. Whether you think that is right or wrong, it all points to a wider cultural issue it seems we are trying to hide.
That issue is the reality that so many people feel the need to be intoxicated without limit. If you are old enough to remember the 1960s drug scene, you know that the two decades of the 60s and 70s did not represent America’s finest hour. Our nation had a lot of problems, many of which were in some way related to the cultural phenomenon of ‘turning on, tuning in, and dropping out’.
It Started With Medical Cannabis
People use kratom and other intoxicating substances because they feel a need to be intoxicated. It is uncomfortable to admit, but it’s the truth. And right now, the challenges we see with kratom are similar to the challenges that come with synthesized cannabinoids like delta 8 and delta 10.
The alarming thing is that at all started with medical cannabis in the 1990s. Cannabis advocates in the Golden State used medical cannabis as a stepping stone to ultimately achieving full legalization. They have largely succeeded in dozens of states.
In Utah, only medical cannabis is allowed. Patients who enter the Beehive Farmacy locations in Brigham City and Salt Lake City must have a valid medical cannabis card in order to purchase. But since winning medical cannabis some seven years ago, advocates have been working on full legalization. Meanwhile, kratom and synthesized cannabinoids can be found throughout the state in gas stations and convenience stores. Visit Beehive for more information.
More About Kratom
Kratom is a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia. Its leaves have traditionally been used by eastern cultures to combat pain and fatigue. It has also been utilized to treat diarrhea and as a stimulant. Its main active ingredients are mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH).
Low doses of kratom can act as an effective stimulant that boosts energy, alertness, mood, and focus. It’s often compared with caffeine in this regard. But once you start getting into higher doses, kratom has the opposite effect. It acts like a sedative. It relieves pain, encourages relaxation, and reduces anxiety. Most importantly, it offers a euphoric effect similar to opioids.
The challenge was kratom is that it stimulates opioid receptor activity. Because it does, it encourages both dependence and tolerance. Long-term kratom users can experience all sorts of withdrawal symptoms similar to opioid withdrawal.
More Potent Than Morphine
Unfortunately, Utah is experiencing problems with kratom similar to those in other states. Kratom is making its way to the market in energy drinks, snacks, etc. It should also be noted that manufacturers are able to synthesize kratom, thereby purifying it and making an even more potent.
Lawmakers heard during a November 2025 hearing that kratom is 10-20 times more potent than morphine. The state’s Poison Control Center says reports of kratom poisoning have doubled over the last two years. The Utah Department of Health and Human Services said there have been 158 fatal kratom overdoses in the state within the last five years.
There are legitimate medical purposes for kratom. But most people who take kratom do so to get intoxicated. That is the wider cultural issue. Until we address it, we will continue seeing new drugs come to market, drugs that need to be seriously considered for bans.
