PLYMOUTH TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Stores in Plymouth Township could soon be barred from selling kratom after township trustees on Tuesday unanimously agreed to move forward with an ordinance amendment outlawing the product.
The change still needs final approval at a future meeting. If adopted, selling or handing out kratom would bring civil fines of $1,000 to $7,500, with the amount tied to the type of violation, while an aggravated case could cost as much as $25,000. Repeat offenders would face misdemeanor penalties. Kratom is currently on store shelves across the township.
Police Chief James Knittel Jr. of the Plymouth Township Police Department has led the push, pointing to how the substance affects the central nervous system and its appeal to young people. The proposal also covers 7-OH, a concentrated product made from the kratom plant.
Federal regulators have flagged the same concern. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has recommended that certain 7-OH products be controlled under the Controlled Substances Act, saying the compound binds to opioid receptors and is sold online as well as in vape shops, corner stores and gas stations. The agency has warned that flavored gummies and similar products may appeal to children and teens. The Drug Enforcement Administration has final say on any scheduling.
Knittel said enforcement would begin with education, giving sellers a chance to comply before the township turns to civil and then criminal action.
Nearby Canton has already moved to rein in kratom sales, as have Sterling Heights and Clinton Township, while a statewide bill remains stalled in the Michigan Senate.
