Senate Bill 1656, also known as "Matthew Davenport's Law," amends various sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated to regulate the possession, manufacture, delivery, and sale of Kratom. The bill establishes that knowingly possessing Kratom is an offense, as well as manufacturing, delivering, or selling it. The definition of Kratom is expanded to include any part of the mitragyna speciosa plant and its derivatives. Violations of these provisions are classified as misdemeanors or felonies, with specific penalties depending on the circumstances, such as selling to a minor.

Additionally, the bill mandates that county medical examiners test for Kratom in cases of suspected drug overdose and requires toxicology testing for Kratom when ordered by a physician in cases of suspected drug overdose or neonatal abstinence syndrome. It also directs the commissioner of labor and workforce development to include Kratom in the definition of a drug under existing labor laws. The bill will take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 39-17-452, 33-2-1404(a)(8), 33-2-1404