Guess what, It is illegal to sell 5lbs of Kraton in TN

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) —

*Editor's Note: After being posted on Reddit and receiving several calls regarding Kratom, Fox 17 News is investigating the matter further. We are also adding the full news release from the Metro Nashville Police Department to the bottom of this story*

Metro Nashville Police said a Clarksville man was arrested after he's accused of selling more than 5 pounds of Kratom to an undercover officer.

Christopher R. Miller, 26, is charged with possessing and selling an analogue controlled substance and driving on a revoked license.

The month-long investigation suggests Miller was supplying large amounts of Kratom to people in the Nashville area. He was arrested after driving into a North Nashville parking lot where police said he planned to sell 5 pounds of Kratom to an undercover police officer.

MNPD'S Major Case Task Force and narcotics detectives started the investigation after officers responded to an ad online regarding the sale of fresh Kratom, which police described as an opiate synthetic substance which is an illegal narcotic in Tennessee.

Read Public Chapter Number 161 of the Tennessee Code below or on mobile here:

Metro Police said according to the narcon.org website, Kratom can impact the human body by causing edginess, vomiting, sweating, constipation, delusions, respiratory depression, psychotic episodes, hallucinations and paranoia.

According to the DEA, "Mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine are found in kratom, which is a tropical tree indigenous to Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, and other areas of Southeast Asia."

Miller is free on a $22,500 bond. He's due in court June 12.

While Metro Police classified Kratom as an "opiate synthetic substance," the DEA's description did not mention the substance being "synthetic."

Meanwhile, advocates for the substance say it helps to curb heroin addiction.

Fox 17 News is investigating further details surrounding this arrest. This is an ongoing story and will be updated.

NEWS RELEASE FROM MNPD:

A one-month investigation into the large scale distribution of a synthetic opiate substance known as Kratom has resulted in the arrest of a Clarksville man on felony drug charges and the seizure of more than five pounds of Kratom.

Christopher R. Miller, 26, of Mickle Lane in Clarksville, is charged with possessing and selling an analogue controlled substance and driving on a revoked license.

The MNPD’s Major Case Task Force and narcotics detectives began the investigation by responding to an advertisement on the Internet concerning the sale of fresh and potent Kratom, a product of the Mitragyna speciosa tree native to Southeast Asia. The opiate synthetic substance is an illegal narcotic in Tennessee. According to the narcon.org website, Kratom can impact the human body by causing edginess, vomiting, sweating, constipation, delusions, respiratory depression, psychotic episodes, hallucinations and paranoia.

Detectives allege that Miller was supplying large amounts of Kratom to persons in the Nashville area. He was arrested after driving into a North Nashville parking lot, where he planned to sell the five plus pounds of Kratom to an individual who, unbeknownst to Miller, was an undercover police officer.

Miller is free on $22,500 bond. He is due in court on June 12th.