Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Lawmakers hear testimony on Kratom Consumer Protection Act; debate centers on synthetics, youth access and local control
Summary
A public hearing on House Bill 2,291 drew testimony from public‑health experts, city officials, industry groups and users over whether Washington should regulate natural kratom leaf like cannabis while banning synthetic, opioid‑like adulterants and preserving local authority.
A state House committee opened a public hearing on House Bill 2,291 on Jan. 30, hearing two hours of testimony about kratom’s risks and how the state should regulate the botanical and its synthetic derivatives.
The bill, as explained by committee staff, would place kratom regulatory authority with the Liquor and Cannabis Board, require retailers and processors to be licensed, set a minimum purchase age of 21, ban certain high‑potency or synthesized kratom products, mandate child‑resistant packaging and independent laboratory certification, and impose an 11% excise tax. Staff said the proposal includes a $1,000 license and renewal fee and directs tax and fee revenue into a youth regulated substance prevention account, with 25% for administration and 75% for public‑health education and interventions.
Representative Christine Reeves, the bill’s prime sponsor, said synthetic versions of kratom have created the urgency for regulation. “The worst part of kratom, though, is when it…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
