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MISAM Argues for Robust Regulation of Kratom Products Instead of Blanket Bans
On April 16, the Michigan Society of Addiction Medicine (MISAM) sent a letter to members of the House Committee on Government Operations expressing concern with HB 5537. Specifically, HB 5537 would ban all kratom products and potentially criminalize possession.
In the letter, MISAM outlined its position that a full ban on all kratom products would lead to unintended consequences, especially if hastily implemented. For example, abrupt criminalization of all kratom products could precipitate acute withdrawal symptoms without proper treatment options. Additionally, MISAM noted that a full ban could drive individuals to self-manage and bolster demand for more dangerous black-market products. While acknowledging the risks of synthetic kratom products such as 7 hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), MISAM offered support for a patient-centered approach to kratom policy. Specifically, MISAM expressed support for robust health and consumer safety regulation in the form of HB 4969. Key provisions of HB 4969 include including age restrictions, accurate labeling requirements, limits on high potency alkaloids such as 7-OH, prohibitions on synthetic variants, and mandatory third-party testing. MISAM described the path of evidence-informed regulation of kratom as preferable to an outright ban that may have unintended consequences.
