ATLANTA — The American Kratom Association is urging Georgia lawmakers to regulate kratom products rather than make them all illegal.

American Kratom Association spokesperson Mac Haddow says the natural kratom plant is not what is harming people, but rather concentrated and synthetic products marketed as pure kratom.

“Alcohol, cigarettes, age restricted products. They simply can add kratom to that list,” Haddow said.

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr is proposing changes to the Kratom Consumer Protection Act that would make all kratom products illegal unless specifically approved by the state.

“We are asking the Georgia legislature to take appropriate steps to pass legislation that will have enforcement mechanisms embedded in them,” Haddow said.

Haddow says the American Kratom Association wants to help protect consumers.

He also says kratom products should be subject to an excise tax in addition to sales taxes.