Obvious Misinformation Is Driving Tennessee's Kratom Ban
To the legislators that read this: You were elected to represent the people of Tennessee, not to make life-altering policy based on false statements and a narrative that falls apart under scrutiny. Matthew Davenport’s death was tragic, but the toxicology does not back the public claim being used to sell this bill. And Tennessee voters can see it. They are watching elected officials move on a false narrative instead of hard facts. Tennessee is being asked to criminalize nearly half a million consumers and forfeit millions in tax revenue — based on a case that was never a natural kratom leaf death.
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The Toxicology Report -Tennessee is being lied to.
Matthew Davenport’s death is a tragedy. No one disputes that. But the story being told to Tennessee lawmakers leaves out critical facts from his own toxicology report — and those facts change everything about this bill.
The False Narrative
Matthew Davenport, age 27, died from a “kratom overdose” after purchasing a product at a convenience store. His mother is now leading the fight to ban the substance statewide. HB 1649 is named in his honor — “Matthew Davenport’s Law” — and framed as the obvious response to an obvious danger.
The Hamilton County Medical Examiner’s Report
The official autopsy and toxicology report from the Hamilton County Medical Examiner’s Office lists the cause of death as accidental intoxication by multiple substances:
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) — blood level of 3,000 ng/mL, a concentration that is independently considered 3 times the lethal amount. This level alone could have caused his death with no other substances present.
Duloxetine (an antidepressant) — blood level far surpassing therapeutic range, capable of causing fatal CNS depression and serotonin toxicity.
Buspirone (an anti-anxiety medication) — present at very high levels.Â
Mitragynine (kratom’s primary alkaloid) — present at levels below those sufficient to determine it caused his death.
Source: Hamilton County Medical Examiner’s Office, autopsy and toxicology report for Matthew Davenport (d. March 18, 2024).Â
