Clay and Becker Counties Weigh Kratom Rules, Michigan Bill Would Ban Sales
Clay and Becker leaders reviewed kratom safety without formal action. A Michigan bill would ban growing or selling kratom. FDA has not approved kratom products; North Dakota classifies it as Schedule I.
County commissioners in Clay and Becker counties met Tuesday morning to evaluate the safety and potential regulation of Kratom, a controversial herbal drug marketed as a natural supplement, while lawmakers in the Michigan state House introduced a new bill Thursday to ban the growth or sale of kratom in Michigan.
While commissioners took no formal action or votes on ordinances, officials are studying whether local regulations are needed to protect public health. Kratom is a plant native to Southeast Asia that is used both as a medicine and as a recreational drug. It is a plant-based substance marketed online for energy, pain relief, sleep, and opioid withdrawal. Despite its marketing as a natural supplement, health officials warn that “natural” does not mean safe. The Food and Drug Administration has not approved any Kratom products, and North Dakota has classified the substance as a Schedule I controlled substance following dozens of associated deaths. Local officials noted that Kratom has not yet emerged as an issue in local schools.
“The horror story that I had out of Detroit Lakes was that there was a mom who ended up spending over $60,000 on kratom products over the course of a year when all she wanted to do was treat chronic knee pain without having to take an opioid,” said an official with Clay County Public Health.
Commissioners reviewed several potential regulatory steps for the future, including retail licensing requirements, zoning restrictions on where Kratom can be sold, mandatory warning labels for products, and complete bans on local retail sales. For now, officials stated their immediate priority is community education rather than active enforcement. Leaders plan to monitor regulatory actions from North Dakota and federal agencies while focusing on getting safety information to parents and the public.
The bipartisan Michigan bill would make it a misdemeanor to grow or sell kratom in Michigan, with penalties of up to a year in jail if it is sold to a minor. Kratom is not scheduled as a narcotic by the federal government, but the Drug Enforcement Administration says abuse can lead to addiction as well as negative side effects like seizures. The bill has been referred to the State House Committee on Regulatory Reform.