Policy · 2026-05-29
Sterling Heights Becomes First Michigan City to Fully Ban Kratom Sales as State Legislature Stalls
Source: WXYZ-TV Detroit
Why it matters
Sterling Heights, Michigan's sixth-largest city, voted 6-1 to ban kratom sales entirely — including both natural and synthetic forms — becoming the first Michigan city to take this step as state lawmakers remain deadlocked on a statewide bill.
The big picture
Michigan HB 5537, which would ban kratom statewide, passed the House with bipartisan support but has stalled in the Senate Government Operations Committee amid heavy industry lobbying. With the state unable to act, local municipalities are stepping in. Sterling Heights banned kratom outright while neighboring Clinton Township enacted age restrictions. The ban highlights the growing divide between those who see all kratom as dangerous and advocates who distinguish between natural kratom leaf and synthetic 7-OH derivatives.
Key findings
- Sterling Heights City Council voted 6-1 on May 24, 2026 to ban kratom sales and distribution within city limits.
- The ban covers both natural kratom leaf and synthetic forms (including 7-OH), with the ordinance taking effect in early June 2026.
- Non-compliant businesses face potential business license revocation by the city.
- Sterling Heights Police Lt. Kashat reported rising kratom-related hospitalizations and kratom-linked crimes, including a breaking and entering case tied to kratom addiction.
- Michigan HB 5537 passed the House but remains stalled in the Senate Government Operations committee.
- Global Kratom Coalition argued that natural kratom leaf should not be banned — only concentrated synthetic 7-OH derivatives.
What they say
"The state hasn't done anything to control it. We drew a line here in Sterling Heights to make sure we're going to keep the people who live here safe." — Councilman Henry Yanez, Sterling Heights City Council
Bottom line
Sterling Heights' total kratom ban — the first of its kind in Michigan — underscores how local governments are filling the regulatory gap left by state inaction on a substance linked to addiction and crime.