CJ’s Law, a bill that would criminalize kratom in New Jersey, awaits vote

MANASQUAN — When CJ Holowach died from a cardiac arrest after taking a mixture of kratom and Adderall while awaiting arm surgery, his mother, Trish Bossone, contacted her state representatives and sought legislative change.

CJ’s Law, the informal name for Bill A3797 that then emerged, continues to move forward through the state government on the path to potentially making kratom illegal in New Jersey.

Kratom is a plant-based substance that originates from southeast Asia and can be ingested in several different ways. It has been used for pain relief as an alternative to prescription drugs such as opioids and is sold widely.

However, stated Assemblywoman Jessica Ramirez (D-32) in a press release, it is unregulated and its consumption “can lead to toxicity in one’s organs, failing respiratory functions and a myriad of other concerning symptoms such as sleeplessness, delusions and aggressive withdrawal reactions.”

The bill would criminalize the “manufacture, sale, and possession of substances containing kratom,” according to the state legislature’s website. Kratom is currently banned in six states: Wisconsin, Indiana, Arkansas, Vermont, Rhode Island and Alabama.

It was transferred to the Assembly State and Local Government Committee on June 24, according to Assemblywoman Ramirez, who sponsors the bipartisan bill, along with Assemblymen Sean Kean (R-30) and William Sampson IV (D-31).

It is also co-sponsored by Assemblymen Gregory McGuckin (R-10) and Robret Karabinchak (D-18).

Also on June 24, the bill was reported out of the Assembly Committee and received a second reading. It now awaits a third reading and a vote, which will determine if it moves in or not.

Proponents of the bill argue that the lack of regulation regarding kratom makes its users susceptible to adverse effects.

“CJ turned to the substance instead of jeopardizing his recovery from an opioid addiction,” stated the press release from Assemblywoman Ramirez’s office. “Without knowing the proper dosage or being made aware by any warning label, he suffered a cardiac arrest.”

Meanwhile, kratom supporters argue that kratom does have benefits and should not be fully banned.

Mac Haddow, senior fellow on public policy with the American Kratom Association, told The Coast Star in April that while he would support regulation in order to reduce the safety hazards often associated with consuming unregulated substances, he did not believe that kratom meets the recommended requirements for a full ban under the Controlled Substance Act.

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