Spokane considers kratom ban as first Washington city to restrict supplement sales

SPOKANE, Wash. — The City of Spokane is taking its first steps to ban the sale of kratom.

Spokane’s Public Safety Committee discussed making it illegal to sell kratom in Spokane. If passed, it would be the first city in Washington to ban it.

The substance is marketed as a supplement and often sold in gas stations, convenience stores and smoke shops. But doctors say it can have opioid-like effects.

The DEA classifies kratom as a drug and can be sold in many different forms including tablets, capsules and powders.

Kratom is not FDA approved.

The proposed ban has strong support from people who have experienced kratom addiction. Cody Chapman first heard of kratom from a friend who described it as an energy booster.

But Chapman says it wasn’t long before the drug took over his life.

“I was spending upwards of $1,000 a week on it. You could easily do that. And I did that for almost a year straight,” Chapman said.

Chapman says kratom cost him his home and almost his life. He shared a photo of his car after he fell asleep at the wheel while on kratom.

“I never thought I would be doing something like that and take money away from my kids and family,” Chapman said.

Chapman says rehab was the hardest thing he’s ever done.

Sara Welty, a nurse care manager on an opioid use disorder team, sees patients suffering from opioid withdrawals. She described kratom withdrawal symptoms as severe.

“It’s the flu times a thousand. It’s miserable aches and pains, sweating, nausea, vomiting, all of like the worst things you can think of,” Welty said.

Welty thinks a ban on kratom that the city is discussing would be the safest choice.

“If you’re stepping away and saying this is a better choice because at least it’s not fentanyl, you’re still putting yourself at risk for the really terrible things that come along with it,” Welty said.

Even some retailers support the potential ban. Sam Hufnagel, manager of Smoker’s Outlet, says a ban doesn’t concern him and may actually be a good thing.

“It would make our sales a little bit lower.” Hufnagel said. “I honestly wouldn’t mind it that much. It’s pretty addictive and a little scary,”

Washington state has no state-mandated age restrictions to buy kratom. The product advises against the sale to those under 21, and many stores say they always check customers’ IDs.