Commission urges state lawmakers to regulate kratom after public health testimony
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Summary
After public testimony from local medical and prevention professionals about addiction and overdose risks, Bay City commissioners passed a resolution calling on the Michigan legislature to enact age and safety restrictions on kratom sales.
The Bay City Commission on Monday adopted a resolution asking the Michigan Legislature to enact regulations on kratom after several public speakers described health and addiction risks associated with the substance.
The resolution was moved by Commissioner Tenney and seconded by Commissioner DeWitt. Commissioner Tenney said she had been approached by community members and healthcare professionals about kratom’s availability and potential for dependence. "It does bind to opioid receptors," said Commissioner Tenney during the discussion, summarizing concerns raised by public commenters and medical experts.
Why it matters: Witnesses during the public comment period said unregulated kratom products can be addictive and that hospitals and first responders may not reliably detect the substance. Dr. Bill Maroney, the Bay County chief medical examiner, told the commission he has treated kratom detox patients and stated that "at high doses, kratom acts at the opiate receptor, and it relieves pain" and that "we have kratom overdose deaths" in several counties he serves. Katie Ball, a prevention specialist, told commissioners kratom is "a highly, highly addictive substance with withdrawal" and that local treatment providers are seeing kratom cases.
Discussion and limitations: Commissioners acknowledged the public-health concerns but noted municipal limits on enforcement. The city attorney, via staff, advised that local restrictions would have limited enforceability and that significant regulation would require state action. Commissioner Tenney and others said the resolution asks the state to consider age restrictions and retail safeguards rather than attempting an unenforceable local ban.
Vote: The clerk called roll. The resolution passed 7–1. Commissioner Cubitt voted no; other commissioners voted yes.
Ending: The adopted resolution asks the Michigan Legislature to consider measures such as age restrictions, requirements to safeguard kratom from youth-oriented marketing, and testing/labeling standards. Commissioners said the measure is a request to state lawmakers, not a change to local code, and staff will transmit the resolution to the Legislature.