Shop clerk, son charged with selling illegal kratom amid probe into deaths of 2 Ole Miss students

A store clerk and his son have been charged with selling an illegal kratom product as federal authorities investigate the deaths of two University of Mississippi students, prosecutors said Friday.

Shop clerk, son charged with selling illegal kratom amid probe into deaths of 2 Ole Miss students

TL;DR

  • A store clerk and his son have been charged with selling an illegal kratom product.
  • The charges are connected to an ongoing federal investigation into the deaths of two University of Mississippi students.
  • Bank records indicate one of the deceased students purchased products from the store in question.
  • Kratom products were found in the rooms of both students.
  • The clerk warned an informant to be careful with the kratom pills, stating that people were dying from them.
  • Kratom is legal federally but banned in some states and cities, with federal warnings issued about its risks.
  • Proponents claim pure kratom is safe, but derivatives can be potent and dangerous.
  • The DEA has banned certain kratom-related compounds, some of which were found in products seized.
  • Eleven states have banned kratom, while others, like Mississippi, have regulations in place, and Oxford has its own ban.