Shop clerk, son charged with selling illegal kratom amid probe into deaths of 2 Ole Miss students - CBS News
A store clerk and his son were arrested for selling illegal kratom products following the deaths of two University of Mississippi students. While kratom is federally legal, authorities are investigating its potential role in the recent drug-related fatalities.
Why it matters
The case highlights the regulatory gaps surrounding herbal substances and the ongoing public health concerns regarding unregulated supplements.
A store clerk and his son have been charged with selling an illegal kratom product as federal authorities investigate the deaths of two University of Mississippi students, prosecutors said Friday.A drug task force in Mississippi had previously urged people to avoid kratom — an herbal substance that acts as a stimulant at low doses and a sedative at high doses — after authorities found packages of kratom derivatives while investigating the deaths on Sept. 21. It is still not clear whether those substances contributed to either death, but federal prosecutors said both appear consistent with drug overdoses. Two state agencies were working to expedite toxicology reports for the students, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said in a statement last week. Lafayette County Metro Narcotics said Thursday the investigation remained active and additional charges were possible.
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