The Joint Judiciary Committee met this morning for an overview of the Kratom Enforcement Process. Kratom is a psychoactive extract from a plant grown in Southeast Asia; Some say it has an opioid-like effect. In 2023, Article 12 of Chapter 19 of the WV Code was amended to include Kratom. According to presentations, WV has the highest buy rate of kids’ 28 percent. Vape stores are the problem, as they are targeting and selling to children, which is a felony. Individuals must be 21 or older to purchase Kratom. These stores keep popping up; there are currently over 600 standalone vape shops. In 2025, there have been over 415 criminal complaints. In 2022, the number was only 48. Some legislation requests include laws to make it illegal for employees to live where they work. Additionally, may of the owners of vape shops are out of state, which means they need an in-state responsible person. One of the few states with strong regulations on these substances. According to the Department of Agriculture, there are no kratom vaping products registered in West Virginia. The department has found 109 shops selling illegal products. Operations have been shut down (unable to sell kratom or THC) for repeated infractions or large issues. The program is self-funded, as the revenue from taxes and fees are used to run the program for testing etc. Having an identification card scan to enter a website or to purchase would provide better security.
