Cam Cavitt

State Rep. Cam Cavitt, R-Cheboygan, this week championed the bipartisan committee passage of his plan to protect young people from a potentially dangerous substance that is readily available at gas stations and convenience stores throughout Michigan, according to a press release from his office on Friday.

Cavitt’s House Bill 4969 would regulate the sale, distribution, and manufacturing of kratom products, which commonly are synthetically hijacked to create the far more dangerous ‘gas station heroin.’

“Gas station heroin is yet another addition to a long list of dangerous drugs that are way too accessible to our children,” Cavitt said in the release. “Putting meaningful restrictions on kratom ensures that adults are able to legally purchase the substance; outlaws the dangerous, synthetically altered versions of the substance; and punishes any corrupt individual willing to sell to kids.”

Kratom, which is native to Southeast Asia, is made from the leaves of a tropical evergreen tree and has been used in herbal medicine dating back to the 19th century, the release states. Today, kratom is more commonly processed into powder, which is then manufactured into pills or other products.

According to the release, the drug can cause heightened energy, alertness, and pain relief, but also causes commonly reported side effects like nausea, constipation, elevated blood pressure, seizures, psychosis, and liver dysfunction. While veterans commonly use kratom to treat post-traumatic stress disorder, the Food and Drug Administration has yet to officially approve any kratom products. However, kratom products – such as candy, gummies, and flavored drinks – are still being sold at gas stations and vape shops with little to no oversight.

“In working on this legislation, I’ve heard so many tragic stories from people who’ve lost loved ones to dangerous genetic mutations of this drug,” Cavitt said in the release. “Whether it’s children acting out or adults not fully understanding the risks, gas station heroin must be regulated to protect other families from suffering similar tragedies. People should know and understand exactly what they’re purchasing before experiencing a terrible, sometimes fatal, side effect.”

The release states that Cavitt’s plan would create the Kratom Consumer Protection and Regulatory Act, which requires that all kratom products must be labeled with a warning label stating that kratom is an unapproved dietary ingredient, that ingesting kratom may be dangerous, and recommending physician consultation on how to use the product safely. The label must also contain a warning to keep the product out of reach of children, not to use if pregnant or breastfeeding, and not to sell to minors.

The bill also prohibits the sale of especially potent kratom products and explicitly bans the sale of kratom products to anyone under the age of 21.

The legislation now moves to the House floor for further consideration.