Gas Station Heroin Bill Dies in Senate

A bill aiming to ban kratom, controversially dubbed "gas station heroin" by some legislators, has stalled in the South Carolina Senate as the 2026 regular session nears its end. This development halts the bill's progress for the current year, though senators indicated the issue is likely to be reconsidered in the upcoming legislative session. Last year, a law was enacted restricting the purchase of kratom, a substance with stimulant or sedative properties, to individuals aged 21 and older.

However, proponents of the new bill argued this measure did not sufficiently address concerns regarding kratom's potential for addiction, liver toxicity, and even death. The debate highlighted the growing popularity of unregulated or lightly regulated intoxicating products, with another bill concerning nitrous oxide awaiting a House vote. Senators on the Medical Affairs Committee acknowledged the need for further restrictions on kratom but postponed a vote, citing a need for more comprehensive information on this complex substance.