This bill amends Iowa law to designate kratom, derived from the plant Mitragyna speciosa, as a schedule I controlled substance. The new legal language specifies that kratom includes any parts of the plant and its compounds, such as mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. The bill clarifies that the inclusion of this definition does not imply agreement with the substance's effects by the members of the general assembly.

Under the new provisions, penalties for possession of kratom are established, categorizing a first offense as a serious misdemeanor, which carries a potential confinement of up to one year and fines ranging from $430 to $2,560. Subsequent violations escalate to an aggravated misdemeanor, punishable by up to two years of confinement and fines between $855 and $8,540. Additionally, individuals with two or more prior convictions face a class D felony charge, which can result in up to five years of confinement and fines from $1,025 to $10,245.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 124.204