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Board of Health vice chair urges city action on kratom near schools
Summary
Matt Pollock, vice chair of the Board of Health, told the council he found multiple kratom products— including highly concentrated synthetic formulations—on sale near local schools and urged the city to act quickly; council placed the topic on the July 14 agenda for further discussion.
Matt Pollock, vice chair of the Board of Health, told the council during public comment that kratom products are widely available locally and pose a risk to children when sold near schools.
"Kratom is an opioid...overdoses happen. They've been documented. And the way to treat them is with Narcan," Pollock said, adding he found several product types and packaging at a nearby station adjacent to Garden Heights Elementary and Columbia Middle School. Pollock urged the council to consider local restrictions while county or state action proceeds and said the Board of Health had circulated a related resolution.
Council members thanked Pollock and noted that the issue was already scheduled for fuller council discussion at the July 14 meeting. Pollock said the county and state are also potential venues for action but emphasized the city can move more quickly on local retail restrictions near schools.
Council did not take immediate action Wednesday but scheduled the item for the July agenda for additional staff briefing and possible regulatory options.
