FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Yancey Continues Efforts to Address Kratom in Mississippi Rep. Lee Yancey has been working since 2021 to address the growing availability of kratom in Mississippi, including efforts to ban the substance under Mississippi’s controlled-substances law. His 2022 legislation, HB 681, would have placed kratom in Schedule I and passed the House 82–29 before dying in the Senate. He continued pursuing stronger restrictions in subsequent sessions, including HB 5 in 2023 and HB 1594 in 2024. In 2025, Yancey authored HB 1077, which became law and prohibits the sale or distribution of kratom products to anyone under 21, establishes penalties and registration requirements, and prohibits the sale of products containing synthesized or semi-synthesized kratom alkaloids or other synthesized kratom compounds. The law also specifically preserves existing local bans and restrictions and allows cities and counties to enact future bans or restrictions. Following the tragic deaths of two University of Mississippi students in Oxford in September 2026, Yancey believes the Legislature should revisit the issue during the 2027 session, including consideration of a statewide ban on kratom. Authorities have emphasized that toxicology results were not yet available and that there was no confirmed evidence connecting kratom to either death; however, kratom was found at the scenes, and both the City of Oxford and Lafayette County have bans in place. Yancey says the circumstances underscore the need for the Legislature to examine whether Mississippi’s current regulatory framework provides sufficient protection for its citizens and whether statewide prohibition should be considered in 2027.