Spokane Valley Bans Kratom, Fines Retailers

Spokane Valley Bans Kratom: A Deep Dive into the Plant-Based Substance and Its New Regulations

In a recent development, Spokane Valley has joined Spokane in banning kratom, a plant-based substance often found at gas stations and smoke shops. The city councils decision came after a lengthy debate, following Spokanes own ban. Kratom, which acts on opioid receptors, can provide a euphoric high at lower doses and a sedative effect at higher ones. Its commonly consumed as tea, pills, capsules, or extracts, but it carries risks such as addiction and long-term issues like weight loss, sleep problems, hallucinations, and depression. Local police chief Dave Ellis noted that people sometimes use it to manage opioid withdrawal, but it can lead to its own dependency. Despite no federal or state regulations, places like Oregon have consumer protection rules in place. The new Spokane Valley ordinance imposes a $250 fine for first-time sellers or distributors, escalating to $1000 for repeat offenses, and could revoke business licenses. Enforcement begins after a 30-day grace period, as two Washington state bills to regulate kratom failed to advance in the legislature. Interestingly, it remains legal across the border in Idaho.

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