Kratom; Virginia State Crime Commission to conduct an analysis of enforcement & regulation, report.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not specify that people who use kratom are directly affected by the bill.

Kratom Study by Virginia Crime Commission

This bill requires the Virginia State Crime Commission to study how kratom is regulated and enforced in the United States and report their findings.

What This Bill Does

• The bill tells the Virginia State Crime Commission to look at how kratom, including the substance 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), is controlled and punished by laws across the U.S.
• It asks the commission to find out if states make kratom illegal or protect consumers who use it.
• The commission must also check what happens when people break laws about kratom, like buying or selling it illegally.
• They need to write a report with their findings and any ideas for new rules by December 1, 2026.

Who It Names or Affects

• The Virginia State Crime Commission
• People who use kratom in Virginia

Terms To Know

Kratom

A plant that some people take for its effects, similar to caffeine or other stimulants.

Mitragyna speciosa

The scientific name for the kratom tree and its leaves.

7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH)

A substance found in kratom that is part of this study.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not say what will happen after the report is made.
• It only talks about studying kratom, not making it legal or illegal in Virginia.

Official Summary Text

Virginia State Crime Commission; kratom regulation and enforcement; report.
Directs the Virginia State Crime Commission (the Commission), in consultation with the Board of Pharmacy, to conduct an analysis of the enforcement and regulation of Mitragyna speciosa, commonly known as kratom, throughout the United States. The bill provides that in conducting its analysis, the Commission shall determine (i) the status of kratom enforcement and regulation at the federal level; (ii) whether states regulate kratom through criminalization or consumer protection laws; (iii) the penalties, if any, associated with violations of state law related to kratom, including individual possession and retail sales; (iv) any other information it deems relevant to kratom enforcement and regulation in the Commonwealth; and (v) any recommendations for changes to existing laws related to the enforcement or regulation of kratom. Lastly, the bill requires the Commission to submit an executive summary and report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 1, 2026.

Current Bill Text

HOUSE BILL NO. 442

AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE

(Proposed by the House Committee on Rules

on ________________)

(Patron Prior to Substitute--Delegate Mehta)

A BILL to direct the Virginia State Crime Commission to analyze kratom enforcement and regulation in the United States; report.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.
§ 1.
That the Virginia State Crime Commission (the Commission), in consultation with the Board of Pharmacy, shall
conduct analysis of the enforcement and regulation of Mitragyna specios
a
, commonly known as kratom,
and the substance 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH)
throughout the United States. In conducting its an
alysis, the Commission shall determine (i) the status of kratom
and the substance 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH)
enforcement
and regulation
at the federal level
;
(ii) whether states regulate
kratom
and the substance 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH)
through criminalization or consumer protection laws
;
(iii) the penalties, if any, associated with violations of state law related to kratom
and the substance 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH)
, including
individual possession and retail sales
;
(iv) any other information it deems relevant to kratom
and the substance 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH)
enforcement
and regulation
in the Commonwealth
;
and (v) any recommendations for
changes to existing laws related to the enforcement or regulation of kratom
and the substance 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH)
. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assi
stance to the Commission for this analysis, upon request. The Commission shall submit an executive summary and report
of its findings and recommendations
to the Governor and the General Assembly
by December 1, 2026
.