Providers of an over-the-counter herbal remedy are facing stiffened municipal regulations.

“I do believe that time is of the essence,” said Coeur d’Alene City Council member Dan English. “There’s a real awareness of this issue in the community, and I do think this is a good starting point.”

Kratom, sold by many retailers across Coeur d’Alene, comes from the leaf of the Mitragyna speciosa tree, native to Asia. What comes in assorted forms of either capsules, liquids or edible products, up until Tuesday kratom providers could legally sell to purchasers under the age of 21 without prescription.

Coeur d’Alene City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a new ordinance requiring kratom providers within city limits to obtain permitting to sell the product, which is generally used either as an energy booster, mood lifter, pain reliever and remedy for the symptoms of quitting opioids, according to the Mayo Clinic.

The new ordinance also forbids the sale of kratom to anyone under 21 years old, while prohibiting any kratom product greater than chemical standards newly set by the city.

“I take it because I want to have a life or I can take care of myself and not just merely exist,” Coeur d’Alene resident Allie Mathes, who uses natural kratom to help with health issues, said during public comment. “With that, I absolutely support regulation of kratom.”

Kratom has a chemical compound called 7-hydroxymitragynine, also known as 7-OH. Kratom has small traces of this particular alkaloid; however, some manufacturers offer a synthesized version of kratom that has greater than 2% 7-OH that causes concern for chemical dependency and abuse.

Among the chemical limitations, the city’s new ordinance now prohibits possession, production or sale of any kratom product greater than 2% of total 7-OH alkaloids. It also prohibits a single serving of a product exceeding one milligram per serving of 7-OH; or two.

According to Gina Rogers, co-founder Hayden herbal medicine provider Inland Botanicals, LLC, natural kratom does not reach a 7-0H level higher than 2%.

“That’s pretty normal and reasonable,” Rogers said of Coeur d’Alene prohibiting higher levels of 7-OH. “I don’t think that there should be anything higher than that.”

Council members on Tuesday spent time working on the mechanics of the bill prior to its passage. They discussed whether labeling should be provided on kratom products, whether prohibiting kratom confection products such as gummies, and whether limiting the purchase of kratom to 21 or 18 were reasonable.

The council also asked Police Chief Greg Yeager if there have been issues with minors abusing kratom.

“I’ve already had minors in this city shoplift kratom,” Police Chief Greg Yeager said. 

He also said his student resource officers have confiscated kratom from students in schools.

Meanwhile, Kootenai County Coroner Dr. Duke Johnson has spent time visiting governments to oppose and call for bans on kratom products. He said its use is leading to an influx of people addicted to kratom arriving at drug rehabilitation facilities within Kootenai County. 

When it comes to fellow local governments, Kellogg is the only regional government to outright ban kratom. Next door, Spokane has also banned the sale and distribution of the product.

City Attorney Randy Adams said the council will still need to decide a license fee price point for businesses that want to sell kratom within city limits.

In addition, violators of the new ordinance could face civil or criminal misdemeanor penalties for infringements. Sellers of kratom could also get their license revoked for multiple ordinance offenses. 

    Coeur d'Alene Police Chief Greg Yeager is questioned by City Council about kratom abuse within the community on Tuesday.