Anchorage draft targets concentrated kratom products with criminal penalties

Why it matters

An Anchorage committee handout proposes criminal penalties for recreational use, possession and distribution of defined kratom products. The draft includes an exception for plant material altered only for packaging; it is not an enacted ordinance.

The big picture

The municipality posted the draft with materials for its October 7 Public Safety Committee meeting, whose agenda included kratom regulations and ordinance development. Its ordinance number and passage date remain blank. The proposal distinguishes specified concentrated or synthetic products from unaltered botanical material.

Key findings

• The draft would prohibit recreational use and possession of products covered by its definitions, as well as their sale or distribution for recreational purposes.
• Covered products include botanical material above 0.050% 7-OH by dry weight and specified synthetic or processed preparations above concentration or 1.00 mg thresholds.
• Any amount of mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, MGM-15 or MGM-16 would fall within the product definition.
• Exceptions cover unaltered plant material packaged for sale, specified licensed medical care and sales by qualifying pharmacy wholesalers.
• Recreational use or possession and distribution to adults would be class B misdemeanors; distribution to minors would be a class A misdemeanor if adopted.

What they say

The draft exempts plant material "not altered in any way other than for packaging for sale or distribution."

Bottom line

Anchorage's committee materials propose criminal restrictions on defined kratom products, with a botanical exception; adoption has not been established.