Crystal City Council Considers Kratom Ban, New Tobacco Regulations
The city of Crystal could be among the first in the state of Minnesota to ban the sale of an opioid-like drug found at some gas stations and smoke shops.
Kratom is made from the leaves of a tree native to southeast Asia. The largely unregulated drug is legal to sell to anyone over the age of 18 in Minnesota.
“Consumption of its leaves produces both stimulant effects (in low doses) and sedative effects (in high doses), and can lead to psychotic symptoms, and psychological and physiological dependence,” according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. “Kratom leaves contain two major psychoactive ingredients (mitragynine and 7-hydroxymytragynine). These leaves are crushed and then smoked, brewed with tea, or placed into gel capsules. Kratom has a long history of use in Southeast Asia. In the U.S., the abuse of kratom has increased markedly in recent years.”
The psychoactive ingredient 7-hydroxymytragynine, also known as 7-OH, can be concentrated in a synthetic that’s 13 times more potent than morphine, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
These concentrated products are often marketed as gummies, candies or other treats.
The Crystal City Council is considering a ban on the sale of kratom products.
“We want to come out strong against kratom until we know it has a health value of some sort — and that’s it’s safe for the community,” said Crystal Mayor Julie Deshler. “We don’t know what it’s laced with, what kind of harmful effects it will cause.”
Meanwhile, the Crystal council is also considering new restrictions on tobacco and vape products.
Those could come in the form of a ban on the sale of flavored tobacco products, as well as minimum container size or pricing requirements.
“It is the health impact to the kids, and also adults as well,” Deshler said. “The other thing too is that we don’t want to be known as, you know, the city that is a free-for-all for tobacco uses.”
According to Deshler, the council hopes to have both new policies enacted within the next six months.
