Commission urges state to regulate kratom after resident and medical testimony; resolution passes 7-1

Bay City commissioners voted 7-1 on Oct. 20 to approve a resolution calling on the Michigan Legislature to consider regulation and age restrictions for kratom, following public testimony from treatment professionals and a county medical examiner who said the supplement can cause addiction and overdose.

Commissioner Tenney introduced the resolution and Commissioner DeWitt seconded it. "We could ask gas stations, cigar shops, whatever, to not sell this substance to minors," Tenney said during discussion, but the city attorney’s office had advised commissioners that local restrictions may lack enforceability without state action.

During the public-input portion of the meeting, Katie Ball, prevention specialist lead at McLaren Prevention Services and coordinator of the Bay County Prevention Network, told commissioners "it's a highly, highly addictive substance with withdrawal," and urged officials to place the issue on their radar. Dr. Bill Maroney, chief medical examiner for Bay County and four neighboring counties, described medical records and cases he has seen, saying that at high doses "kratom acts at the opiate receptor," can cause withdrawal and that the lack of federal regulation complicates recognition and treatment.

Other commissioners who spoke in support of the resolution cited the lack of standardized testing, uncertain potency in retail products and concerns about marketing that could appeal to younger people. Commissioner Cubitt cast the lone no vote, saying she supported action but preferred a more detailed request backed by scientific citations or a professionally drafted letter to state lawmakers.

Vote record (roll call recorded by the clerk): Zanotti — yes; DeWitt — yes; Rhumburg — yes; Charlebois — yes; Morris — yes; Cubitt — no; Coakley — yes; Tenney — yes. The motion passed 7–1.

The resolution directs the commission's clerk to forward the commission's position to Bay City's state legislative delegation and to urge state-level age restrictions, testing or other regulatory steps. Commissioners and presenters noted that local ordinances would have limited enforcement power given state control over controlled substances and commerce.

The resolution had been introduced on the regular agenda as "Commissioner Tenney's resolution calling upon the state legislature regarding Kratom." Staff and members of the public said they would provide additional materials to commissioners to support legislative outreach.