Label
TMC Ch. 513.17
Sale of Kratom
Melden, Williams, Hobbs, Morris
Title
Enacting Toledo Municipal Code (TMC), Part Five, Subsection 513.17 Prohibiting the Sale of Kratom (7-Hydroxymitragynine) to Ban Synthetic Derivatives; and declaring an emergency.
Body
SUMMARY & BACKGROUND:
Kratom is an herbal extract that comes from the leaves of an evergreen tree called Mitragyna speciosa. The tree grows in Southeast Asia. Kratom users can chew the tree's leaves, swallow or brew dry kratom, or add the extract to a liquid.
People who use natural leaf kratom report that at low doses, kratom acts as a stimulant. That means it makes them more alert and gives them more energy. At higher doses, people who use it report that it reduces pain and makes them feel calm and less anxious.
The Food and Drug Administration has drawn a distinction between natural leaf Kratom and synthetics. The FDA has recommended that synthetic, concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine products be classified as a Schedule I substance due to its dangerous and addictive nature. Concentrated 7-hyroxymitrogynine products contain 7-OH at concentrations much higher than can be found in natural leaf Kratom. Consumers are often misled by products branded to be "natural supplements" or natural leaf Kratom but are synthetic based 7-OH products.
Some people take kratom to ease the symptoms of quitting opioids. Kratom may be easier to get than prescription medicines. But it carries its own risk of addiction, according to an article from the Mayo Clinic. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, it carries risks of dependency, withdrawal, and psychotic symptoms. When someone tries to quit using kratom after long-term use, it can mimic the withdrawal pattern of opioids, causing muscle pain, insomnia, and mood swings.
Poison control centers in the United States received more than 3,400 reports about use of kratom from 2014 through 2019. These included reports of death. Side effects reported included high blo...
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