There are about 24 million residents who have used kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) in the United States, according to a new bill on Feb. 13 called the Idaho Kratom Consumer Protection and Safety Act. 

The bill intends “To preserve adult access to natural kratom while preventing the sale of unsafe, adulterated, or synthetic products.”  

State Senator Tammy Nichols, R-Middleton, and Rep. Mark Sauter, R-Sandpoint, were working on similar bills and have joined forces to get more guidelines in place for regulating kratom products and synthetics. 

“It’s a good step in the right direction and we haven’t really had anybody push back and say it’s not warranted. I’ve checked in with law enforcement and our medical professionals and they all state that it seems like it should be at least better regulated,” Sauter said. 

Sauter said there were a number of current concerns with the substance and how it is handled, including labelling issues and organic versus synthetic kratoms. Available concentrations of kratom are also issues being considered.  

“I had a constituent ask me about it in December and ask me to follow up on what we can do to regulate it from Boundary County and I made a commitment to doing so,” Sauter said. “Sadly, that constituent passed away, but it’s a matter of sticking to your commitments.”    

Right now, the sales age is restricted to age 18 and older, something Sauter thinks may be adjusted up to 21 and older in the future.   

"If we can get it in place by July 1, then we can start seeing if it makes a difference or not. I’ve also reached out to the sellers of it and some of the retail establishments, they actually support regulation," Sauter said. 

Panhandle Health District issued a districtwide warning on Monday for kratom, a drug that PHD officials state has addictive and overdose potential.   

"Kratom and in particular 7-OH, appears to be a growing problem in Northern Idaho and the rest of the nation,” said Panhandle Health District’s Medical Director, Gregory Pennock, MD.  

Pennock also noted in the press release that the Kootenai County Coroner had associated deaths with kratom use in North Idaho.

The health warning was issued to increase local awareness for individuals, parents, educators, healthcare workers, government officials and retailers when encountering the substance. 

Two active components of kratom are the alkaloids mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) and potency and content of kratom products vary widely.

According to the Drug Enforcement Agency, kratom consumption can lead to addiction and there have even been cases of psychosis resulting from kratom use.  

Street names include, “Thang, Kakuam, Ketum, Krathom, Madat, Mambog, Thom, Krypton, Herbal Speedball and Gas Station Heroin.”  

Kratom is derived from the leaves of an evergreen tree native to Southeast Asia. At low doses, kratom produces a mild stimulant effect. At higher doses, it has sedative properties similar to opioids.   

The American Kratom Association (AKA) was established in 2014 and has lobbied for states to pass the Kratom Consumer Protection Act to establish safety guidelines and manufacturing practices for kratom vendors.   

As of February, 19 states have passed the legislation at this time.      

As senior fellow on public policy for the association, Mac Haddow shared that the nonprofit views 7-OH is a whole new synthesized element that takes and changes the entire character of the product. 

“We are not for an unregulated market,” Haddow said. “We advocate for states to pass what we call the Kratom Consumer Protection Act, which establishes strict formulation requirements, warning labels that are appropriate and age restrictions.” 

Haddow said that some people using kratom use it for energy boosts, others for mood enhancement and other users partake in kratom as an alternative to opioids and prescription pain medications to manage acute or chronic pain. 

The difference between how the substance binds to receptors in organic and synthetic variations makes a huge difference and is the reason the AKA wants more regulations, Haddow said. 

“7-OH products are the ones the FDA has targeted for being subject to controlled substances because they are so powerful and they are being chemically manipulated,” Haddow said. “They need to be regulated for the potency of extracts and synthetic products. It makes it highly potent, binds to the receptors in our bodies in a way that is significantly addictive in a way that kratom does not.” 

Panhandle Health District officials recommend seeking medical advice for side effects, addiction or withdrawal symptoms and reporting adverse reactions of kratom or 7-OH products to the FDA’s MedWatch program and to Panhandle Health District by calling 208-415-5235. 

Concentrated preparations may contain unsafe levels of the active alkaloids and may cause seizures, addiction, liver and kidney toxicity, according to Panhandle Health.  

Signs of overdose include nausea, vomiting, agitation and restlessness.  

Learn more about the kratom bill being proposed in the state senate.

    Mark Sauter