ATLANTA – State Representative Rick Townsend (R-Brunswick) recently convened the first of several meetings of the House Blue-Ribbon Study Committee on Youth Exposure to Kratom and Retail-Available Substances. Chaired by Rep. Townsend, the study committee met on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at the State Capitol in Atlanta and heard from a number of clinical and medical professionals, scholars, university faculty and other experts on the effects of kratom.
“We kicked off our first study committee meeting by hearing from a knowledgeable group of scholars and experts who each brought a wealth of information to the committee, laying the educational foundation for work going forward,” said Rep. Townsend. “Our goal is to gather the facts and examine the available medical research so that we can make informed legislative recommendations that help protect Georgia’s youth, while ensuring thoughtful consideration of this issue. The committee engaged in a thoughtful and productive discussion during the meeting, and I appreciated hearing from a diverse group of professionals who were transparent and knowledgeable about these products and their effects on Georgians. Throughout the interim, we will continue to meet and hear testimony from more stakeholders so that when we return to the Capitol in January, we are fully equipped with the resources to pursue legislative solutions to safeguard Georgia children.”
During the study committee meeting, members heard from the following presenters: Dr. Alaina Steck, M.D., Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, Emory University; Patrick C. Filkins, PharmD, BCPS, DABAT Clinical Toxicologist, Operations and Special Projects Manager, Georgia Poison Center; Jeff Breedlove, CEO, American Addiction Recovery Association; Christopher R. McCurdy, Ph.D., F.A.A.P.S., Professor And The Frank A. Duckworth Eminent Scholar Chair; Robert Durkin, Counsel, American Kratom Association; Andrew Kolodny, M.D. Medical Director, Opioid Policy Research Collaborative of Brandeis University; Dr. William Crandall, Ph.D., Emory University; Dr. Merrill Norton, Pharm.D., D.Ph., CMAC, CCS, Clinical Associate Professor Emeritus, University of Georgia College of Pharmacy; Michael Templeton, DEA special agent, ret., CEO, Barrister Intelligence; and Eli Cohen, POST Certified Training for law enforcement on gas station drugs, trial attorney, Wetherington Law Firm,.
At the meeting, members received testimony and presentations from these experts on a wide range of topics related to kratom. Presenters discussed the science behind kratom, its increased usage, how it is being used and its opioid-like effects. The committee learned that annual calls to national poison centers regarding kratom have doubled and that users often combine kratom with other substances and can experience withdrawal symptoms. Members also heard how kratom is being marketed to resemble candy, with one presenter testifying that there has been a 400 percent increase in pediatric exposure to kratom.
Presentations also highlighted links between adolescent brain development and addiction, kratom’s therapeutic potential, lack of FDA regulation, fatality statistics, federal safety warnings, importation into the U.S. and the product’s availability in retail locations, such as gas stations. Some presenters recommended limiting kratom sales in convenience stores and gas stations and instead making unadulterated kratom products available through healthcare professionals for medicinal purposes. Other presenters advocated for banning kratom in Georgia altogether. Rep. Townsend notes that these differing recommendations reflect the wide range of perspectives presented to the committee as it begins its review of the issue. Committee members also heard testimony from a presenter who represents families nationwide who have lost loved ones in cases involving kratom, including 15 families, the majority of whom are from Georgia.
The House Blue-Ribbon Study Committee on Youth Exposure to Kratom and Retail-Available Substances is charged with evaluating the impact of kratom products on minors, with the goal of strengthening protections, reducing access and creating healthier outcomes for Georgia’s youth.
To watch the full study committee meeting, please click here.
Future meetings of the House Blue-Ribbon Study Committee on Youth Exposure to Kratom and Retail-Available Substances will be posted on the House schedule here.
Representative Rick Townsend represents the citizens of District 179, which includes a portion of Glynn County. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2022 and currently serves as Secretary of the Natural Resources & Environment Committee. He also serves on the Economic Development & Tourism, Education and Judiciary, Juvenile committees.
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