Kratom fears are cooling in Palm Beach County.
Local kava bars and convenience stores selling the herb won’t have to post signs warning that it could be addictive, the County Commission decided Tuesday.
Federal officials recently dropped kratom from a list of potential drugs and chemicals of concern, according to the county. Also, Florida lawmakers this spring have balked at imposing a ban or other kratom rules.
Now, Palm Beach County officials have backed away from their plans to add local regulations intended to at least require signs to publicize potential health risks.
“Any regulations should be based in fact,” said attorney Neil Schiller, who represents Plants, People and Health, LLC, an advocacy group that fights restrictions of plant-based products. “We just don’t know all the facts yet.”
Instead of pressing ahead with warning signs, Palm Beach County will wait to see if more scientific evidence emerges before deciding whether to “bring it back,” County Attorney Denise Nieman said.
Kratom, often added to tea, is a popular ingredient at South Florida kava bars. It comes from trees native to Thailand, where people have long used the leaves as an herbal drug, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
Kratom supporters say the herb is a safe, natural ingredient that can ease anxiety and provide mild pain relief. Some kratom advocates say it can even help people ease off addiction to illegal drugs.
Kratom becomes a stimulant when the leaves are chewed in small doses. At high doses it can act as a sedative, according to the DEA.
Using kratom is not against the law, but the DEA in the past has warned that it can be addictive and that withdrawal from the substance can lead to aggression, hallucinations and confusion.
Also, side effects from using kratom include nausea, itching, sweating, dry mouth and increased urination, according to the DEA.
Concerns about a spike in local kratom use convinced the Palm Beach County Commission in December to push ahead with a proposal to come up with kratom warning signs and to also coordinate a public educational campaign about the substance.
Yet, when asked Tuesday to give final approval to requiring the warning signs, the County Commission sided with kratom sellers and opted to shelve the signs.
Requiring warning signs risked posting information that was “factually incorrect,” said Elizabeth Gardner, who represents owners of the Purple Lotus kava bar, which has locations in West Palm Beach and Delray Beach.
State lawmakers have also shied away from a ban or restrictions on sales. Instead, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement has launched a study into kratom’s potential effects, with the results expected this fall.
County officials said the results of that study, and another expected from the University of Mississippi, would help determine whether to revive the warning signs requirement and other potential regulations.
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