The N.H. Senate unanimously approved a bill to ban the use of Kratom by minors. Kratom is a plant from a tree similar to coffee that derives from Southeast Asia. It has been used for decades as an herbal tea and can also be smoked.

Kratom is currently sold throughout the United States in smoke shops and specialty stores. Those who use it say it helps with chronic pain and curbs opioid addiction.

But Senator Martha Fuller Clark – a Democrat from Portsmouth – argues the drug has negative side effects.

“It is known lead addicts back to heroin. It has been linked to seizures, psychosis, hallucinations, delusion and confusion.”

Currently five states including Vermont have banned Kratom.