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Local business owners and users urge Washington council to regulate kratom, not ban it
Summary
Several business owners and residents spoke at the March 16 Washington City Council meeting opposing an outright local ban on kratom, distinguishing traditional kratom leaf from synthetic, concentrated products and urging regulation and age limits rather than prohibition.
Islam Diab, owner of King’s Smoke Shop, told the council that his store enforces state age limits and warned an outright ban would force him to close if kratom sales—about 40% of his sales—were restricted. “I never heard since we I opened the store that someone died or got sick,” Diab said, adding that his shop limits sales to customers 21 and older.
Cameron Feldman, who operates Coop Records and said kratom helped sustain his business, described closing a separate East Peoria shop after a local ban and urged Washington to “pause and think” rather than follow suit. “After 15 years of doing this… I can honestly say that it saves both livelihoods and it saves lives,” Feldman said, presenting himself as an advocate for users and local retailers.
Sefa Akiraji, a regional sales representative for a kratom leaf vendor, told the council natural kratom leaf differs from newer concentrated synthetics sometimes called 7‑OH or “70H,” which federal regulators have warned about. Akiraji said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is focusing on concentrated synthetic products and not traditional kratom leaf, and that many retail products he sees are labeled for customers 21 and older. “Natural kratom leaf is very different than stronger synthetic stuff like 7‑OH,” he said.
A resident identified only as G. described personal medical use during cancer treatment and urged education and parental support if underage access is a concern: “If there is a problem… we could provide help for the parents to help their kids.”
Mayor Lillia Stevens did not take questions from the audience during the comment period; staff and council members listened and did not engage in back‑and‑forth during public comment. The council did not act on an ordinance during this meeting; the discussion will inform future agenda work and any formal proposal that councilors send forward.
This summary reflects remarks made in the public comment period and does not adjudicate the safety or regulatory status of kratom. Speakers distinguished between traditional leaf kratom and newer, concentrated synthetics and repeatedly pointed to state and federal actions currently under consideration.
