SPOKANE, Wash. — Mayor Lisa Brown has introduced legislation that would ban kratom sales within Spokane city limits, responding to concerns from public health officials and law enforcement, according to a city announcement.
Kratom is a psychoactive plant that produces stimulant effects at low doses and opioid-like effects at higher levels, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The Washington Poison Center has documented a “vertical spike” in kratom-related emergency calls, including incidents involving children, city officials said.
“We have seen firsthand how unregulated substances like kratom pose serious risks to youth and adults in our community,” said Sarah McNew, Coalition Coordinator of the West Spokane Wellness Partnership…