CLEVELAND — If you didn't know what kratom is, get ready, because it's becoming quite the hot topic amongst state leaders.

On Tuesday, Gov. Mike DeWine called on the Ohio Board of Pharmacy to immediately designate all natural and synthetic kratom compounds as illegal drugs.

Kratom, a plant native to Southeast Asia, is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for consumption or medical use.

According to preliminary data from the Ohio Department of Health, kratom was found to be the cause of death in more than 200 unintentional overdose deaths in Ohio from 2019 to 2024.

“These modified kratom products, sold online and in stores, are essentially legal, over-the-counter opiates that anyone – including kids – can buy with just a few bucks,” said Governor DeWine. “There is

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