Georgia’s New Committee Could Ban Kratom

Georgia Lawmakers Are Taking Another Run at Kratom

Georgia just created a special committee to study kratom — and the timing matters.

The House Blue-Ribbon Study Committee on Youth Exposure to Kratom and Retail-Available Substances is chaired by Rep. Rick Townsend (R-Brunswick), one of the most outspoken kratom critics in the state. Townsend has tried to ban kratom before. This committee gives him a new platform to build the case for criminalization.

The committee meets Wednesday, June 17 at 9:00 AM in Atlanta. Kratom consumers need to be in that room.

What the Committee Is — and Why It’s a Threat

Study committees meet between legislative sessions. They hear testimony, gather data, and make recommendations that shape the bills introduced next session.

In other words: what happens here can become law later.

Townsend isn’t new to this fight. He sponsored Georgia’s existing kratom regulations in 2024, then turned around in 2026 to push HB 968 — a bill that would have made all kratom a Schedule I substance, the same legal class as heroin and LSD. The American Kratom Association pushed back hard.

This bill abandons smart regulation in favor of mass criminalization.

That’s the stakes. A study committee chaired by someone who already tried to ban the plant outright.

Georgia Already Regulates Kratom Responsibly

Here’s what makes this push frustrating: Georgia already has a Kratom Consumer Protection Act.

That law took effect January 1, 2025. It sets age limits, labeling rules, and product standards — the science-backed approach that protects consumers without cutting off access. It was the right answer.

A ban throws that out and replaces smart regulation with prohibition. We’ve seen how that story ends in other states. Click here to see the latest state-by-state battles.

Prohibition doesn’t make communities safer. It pushes responsible adults toward an unregulated gray market — the exact opposite of protecting Georgia’s youth.

How You Can Help on June 17

You do not need to testify. Just showing up makes a difference.

• What: House Blue-Ribbon Study Committee on Kratom
• When: Wednesday, June 17th at 9:00am
• Where: Room 505, Coverdell Legislative Office Building, 18 Capitol Sq Sw, Atlanta, GA 30334
• Bring: Yourself. The AKA is providing t-shirts and stickers for supporters to wear.

A packed room sends a clear message to lawmakers: real people care about this, and a ban hurts them.

If you can’t make it to Atlanta, you can still help. Stay informed on where Kratom stands in your state (check the legal map here), and learn how the Kratom Consumer Protection Act already protects access and prevents abuse.

Kraken Has Your Back

At Kraken Kratom, we don’t sit on the sidelines. We fund advocacy, support legal efforts, and work alongside the American Kratom Association to fight misguided bans wherever they surface.

Georgia is the next front. Let’s pack the room.