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Spokane Valley council hears police briefing on kratom and signals support for a sales ban
Summary
Police and the deputy city attorney briefed the council on kratom's health risks and legal options; after discussion council members signaled consensus to place a kratom regulation item on a future agenda, with several members favoring an outright ban and civil penalties.
Spokane Valley police and legal staff briefed the City Council on kratom on Dec. 23 and the council gave consensus to bring a regulatory item back for formal consideration.
Lieutenant Rob Sataki of the Spokane Valley Police investigative unit and Chief Dave Ellis outlined kratom’s basic properties and local concerns. Sataki described the plant-derived products and said they are sold in forms such as powders, capsules and gummies and are often marketed in local cannabis and convenience stores. He noted health concerns and limited research, saying kratom can act as a stimulant at low doses and an opioid‑like depressant at higher doses. "There hasn't been anything, that says it takes this much to overdose or what an overdose looks like on Kratom," Sataki said, adding that poison control centers fielded about 3,400 reports related to kratom between 2014 and 2019 and that some products have been linked to contamination. He reported two local cases where kratom was detected alongside other substances in deaths; those deaths were not attributed to kratom alone.
Deputy City Attorney Caitlin Prunty outlined the city's regulatory authority under the Washington Constitution and the Revised Code of Washington (RCWs), and presented enforcement options ranging from a civil‑infraction ban (examples cited: $250 initial/$1,000 repeat fines as used in Cle Elum's moratorium) to misdemeanors and business‑license revocation. Prunty cautioned that criminal penalties carry a higher burden of proof and that enforcement would require coordination with county prosecutors.
Council members discussed whether to restrict sales only to minors or to prohibit sales outright. Several members said an outright ban would be easier to enforce and better protect youth; others noted enforcement resource implications. Mayor Haley said she would "definitely be in favor of a ban on the sales" and the council directed staff to bring a kratom regulation proposal back on a future agenda for formal action and drafting.
Council did not enact a regulation at the Dec. 23 meeting; staff indicated they will monitor neighboring jurisdictions (Cle Elum and Spokane) and prepare ordinance options for council consideration.
