LANSING, Mich. (WZMQ) – The Michigan House approved legislation Thursday that would ban the production, sale, and distribution of kratom, a controversial herbal substance increasingly scrutinized by lawmakers and public health officials.
House Bill 5537 would make it a misdemeanor to grow, sell, import, or distribute kratom or its synthetic variants. Penalties range from up to 90 days in jail and a $5,000 fine for a first offense to up to one year in jail and $20,000 in fines for repeat violations involving minors.
Supporters of the legislation say the substance poses serious health risks and is widely available with little oversight.
“We know that kratom is a very deadly drug, it’s very addictive, and it’s killing a lot of people all over the country and here in Michigan,” House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Township) said during a press conference.
Kratom is derived from the Mitragyna speciosa plant and can produce both stimulant and opioid-like effects. While some users report benefits such as pain relief or help with opioid withdrawal, federal agencies have warned about risks including addiction, breathing problems, and death.
The bill would allow kratom only if it is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a drug, supplement, or food additive. Synthetic variants would remain banned regardless.
Rep. Cam Cavitt (R-Cheboygan), who sponsored the bill, said many products are marketed toward younger users.
“The large focus of this market is geared towards children. They make it in candy, cotton candy flavors… our children are dying,” Cavitt said.
Advocates supporting the ban shared personal stories of loss, including Patty Wheeler, who said her son died after using kratom.
“Real lives are being lost because of kratom,” Wheeler said. “People deserve to know what they’re putting in their body.”
Kratom remains legal in Michigan and much of the United States, though several states have enacted bans or regulations. Past reporting has linked the substance to multiple deaths in Michigan, though some cases involved other drugs.
Opponents of bans nationally have argued that kratom can serve as a harm-reduction tool for people struggling with opioid addiction, highlighting ongoing debate over how it should be regulated.
The bill now moves to the Michigan Senate for consideration.
