Blaine adopts broad kratom dealing ban covering gifts and storage

Why it matters

Blaine’s adopted ordinance reaches beyond retail sales. Its definition of kratom dealing includes gifting and storage without government authority, so residents and property owners should not assume the restrictions apply only to shops.

The big picture

The City of Blaine announced that its council unanimously adopted Ordinance 26-3052 on October 26. The measure covers botanical kratom as well as extracted and synthetic derivatives. This is a local criminal ordinance, separate from federal scheduling actions involving particular compounds.

Key findings

• The October 28 city notice reports unanimous council passage on October 26; the ordinance records passage and mayoral signature that day.
• The definition covers the kratom plant and hybrids, extracts, mitragynine, 7-OH, synthesized or biosynthesized derivatives, and products containing those substances.
• The ordinance classifies kratom dealing as a gross misdemeanor and lists selling, preparing, manufacturing, distributing, wholesaling, trading, gifting, storing without government authority and otherwise maintaining kratom.
• Advertising those activities is covered, along with knowingly owning, occupying or leasing property where they occur, or knowingly owning part of a business that carries them out.
• The October 28 announcement said the ordinance would take effect the following week without naming a calendar date. The ordinance has its own passage, approval and publication-based effective-date clause; an exact start date is not established here.

What they say

The city’s council-action packet states that the prohibition is not limited to concentrated or synthetic 7-OH products. The adopted text is available as Ordinance 26-3052 at https://ecode360.com/BL4358/laws/LF2886430.pdf.

Bottom line

Blaine adopted a broad kratom dealing prohibition that includes gifts, storage and specified property or business involvement, rather than a retail-only restriction.