Albany, NY – Assemblymember Phil Steck (D-Colonie) today joined Governor Kathy Hochul and co-sponsors in the Governor’s Office for a ceremonial bill signing of A.5852, legislation he sponsored to strengthen consumer protections and protect New Yorkers from the dangers of kratom.

The new law requires manufacturers or distributors of kratom products sold in New York State to include a warning label stating that kratom may be addictive, clearly list all product ingredients, and prohibits kratom products from being labeled or marketed as “all natural,” a practice that has contributed to consumers misunderstanding the risks associated with these products.

“As Chair of the Assembly Committee on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, I have long been concerned about the deregulation of herbal supplements in the late 1990s, which allowed kratom products to be sold without meaningful oversight,” said Assemblymember Steck. “While kratom is a natural substance derived from a leaf in Southeast Asia that can produce mild effects when traditionally chewed, it becomes dangerous when chemically processed into concentrated forms.”

Kratom products sold in the United States are often refined into potent extracts that can carry serious health risks. These products are widely available in convenience stores and online and have frequently been marketed as harmless despite growing evidence linking kratom use to addiction, severe side effects, and fatalities.

“I believe this legislation would have been even stronger if it had also required manufacturers to clearly list the potential side effects of kratom in large, prominent font,” Steck said. “Those provisions were included in the original bill and would have further strengthened consumer protections. That said, the Governor did strengthen the final legislation by requiring manufacturers to list ingredients on their labels and include a warning that kratom may be addictive, an important step that will help protect New Yorkers from the sometimes deadly consequences of these products. I thank my colleagues, including Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walsh, and Governor Hochul for signing this commonsense law.”

The legislation was inspired by the tragic death of Nick Scribner, a 27-year-old Ballston Spa resident who died in November 2024 after using kratom products marketed as a natural herbal remedy.

“I lost my son Nick to side effects of kratom in November 2024,” said Cari Scribner. “Assemblymember Mary Beth Walsh agreed to see me right away. I was in tears as she suggested legislation. Two weeks later she introduced me to Assemblymember Phil Steck, who, like Mary Beth, showed me nothing but compassion and went right to work drafting bills. I do not know where I would be without them, still crying over my loss instead of celebrating this momentous step against kratom.”

“Prior to speaking with Cari, I was unaware of the dangers of kratom. I am proud that in just one year we were able to make meaningful, potentially lifesaving change through this bipartisan legislation. This law strikes an important balance by preserving consumer choice while ensuring that accurate and transparent information is available. I am grateful to Assemblymember Steck and the Assembly Committee on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse for their work to accomplish this alongside me,” said Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walsh (R, C-Ballston).

Assemblymember Steck emphasized that while this law represents meaningful progress, continued efforts are necessary to ensure New Yorkers are fully informed about the risks associated with kratom and to prevent future tragedies.