Livingston Parish council considering a parish wide ban of Kratom

LIVINGSTON PARISH, La. (WAFB) - Livingston Parish council is considering a parish wide ban on kratom. This is not the first time this was brought up by Livingston Parish council, the matter was discussed and voted against back in 2023. But they are trying again.

John Love, a former user of Kratom, says he used to be an avid supporter of the substance, and used it for over 10 years, but now he’s in favor of the ban.

Kratom is a plant native to Southeast Asia. It can be used as both a stimulant and sedative depending on the dosage. Some claim it is safer alternative to opioids, but it has also been reported to be highly addictive and withdrawal symptoms are allegedly similar to opiates such as heroine.

”I felt like my body was tearing apart from the inside out, and that was a drug that I could get from a gas station, essentially anybody could go and get tonight,” said Love.

Brad Haigler is a recovering addict who says he understands the concerns of having Kratom easily available, he once relapsed on Kratom. But he says people like his wife need it. It’s reported that a common use of Kratom is pain management.

”The girl that I was dating that I’m married to now, she has chronic pain. She needs it, she has pancreatitis and all kinds of other stuff so she’s always in pain and she does not want to take opiates,” said Haigler.

He believes regulation would be a better idea, something some council members also support. District 5 Livingston Parish Councilwoman, Erin Sandefur said in a statement: “I do not support a ban. I do support regulation. This is a state level issue and there are currently two bills in our state legislature that address this issue. Livingston Parish previously took this issue up in 2023 and we voted to not ban.”

Haigler thinks if you take Kratom off the shelf, it could cause people to use other dangerous drugs.

“The worst outcome is, they take it off the shelves and, the fentanyl overdoses go up, because people don’t have that other option,” added Haigler.

But according to Livingston Parish Deputy Sgt. Cody Jarreau, when investigators see kratom, it’s not being used alone, but combined with harder street drugs.

”Individuals use it to enhance the high of other drugs, as well as using it as a cutting agent to increase their quantities and make greater profits,” said Jarreau.

Livingston parish Councilman John Mangus proposed the ban.

“If it had legitimate medical properties, it would be sold at a pharmacy. It would be sold in regular places. You wouldn’t have to go to a gas station or a vape shop to get it,” said Mangus.

Other neighboring parishes have already banned kratom and at the state capitol lawmakers are also considering a statewide ban.

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