Published
An ordinance making the selling of Mitragyna Speciosa Korth (Kratom) a criminal misdemeanor within the city was introduced at the Gonzales City Council meeting on Monday. According to Captain Steven Nethken of the Gonzales Police Department, the law is similar to one that was already in effect in the city and was enacted by the Ascension Parish Council. The city legislation will make it easier for city law enforcement to enforce.
Nethken continued by stating that the FDA has issued cautions against the use of Kratom, therefore it is now being researched at the federal level. The FDA website states:
“The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to use Mitragyna speciosa, commonly known as kratom, a plant which grows naturally in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. FDA is concerned that kratom, which affects the same opioid brain receptors as morphine, appears to have properties that expose users to the risks of addiction, abuse, and dependence.
There are no FDA-approved uses for kratom, and the agency has received concerning reports about the safety of kratom. FDA is actively evaluating all available scientific information on this issue and continues to warn consumers not to use any products labeled as containing the botanical substance kratom or its psychoactive compounds, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. FDA encourages more research to better understand kratom’s safety profile, including the use of kratom combined with other drugs.”
Gonzales’ draft ordinance proclaims “that the usage of (Kratom) is a major concern harming the health and welfare of all residents,” with a final vote planned on April 10. The assertions used to support the statement weren’t supported by anyone.
Anybody selling (Kratom) in Gonzales City shall be in violation of the law. The plant-based drug, which many people see as a near-universal cure, is nonetheless permitted to own and use inside the municipal borders.
No matter how many times someone is caught, the punishment for violating the law is a fine of “not more than $500” or “not more than 60 days” in jail. “If the offender is a vendor, merchant, or retailer licensed to do business in the City of Gonzales, it shall forfeit and/or have all business licenses revoked” for a third or subsequent conviction.