In Michigan, you must be 21 to buy alcohol or tobacco—but you can walk into a gas station and legally purchase kratom, a psychoactive substance linked to addiction, overdose, and even death. With no statewide age limits, no product labeling rules, and no safety standards, kratom is being sold across our communities as if it were a harmless supplement. It’s not.

Kratom, an herbal extract from Southeast Asia, is used by some to boost energy or manage pain. But experts, including Michigan medical examiners, are raising urgent alarms. Taken in small doses, kratom stimulates the body. In higher doses, it acts like a powerful opioid—depressing the central nervous system, triggering withdrawal symptoms, and in some cases, stopping breathing altogether. Dr. William Morrone, who oversees five counties in mid-Michigan, has already reported fatal overdoses in Bay, Midland, and Tuscola counties this year alone.

Bay City’s elected leaders recently passed a resolution urging the state to prohibit kratom sales to anyone under 21. But that’s just the beginning of what needs to happen. Michigan lawmakers must take real, comprehensive action to protect consumers and prevent further harm.

We, the undersigned, call on the Michigan House and Senate Health Policy Committees, as well as Governor Gretchen Whitmer, to pass legislation that:

• Prohibits kratom sales to individuals under 21
• Requires proper product labeling and dosage warnings
• Enforces testing for contaminants and psychoactive concentration
• Supports harm-reduction and treatment programs for addiction

Michigan should not wait until more lives are lost. Eighteen other states have already enacted regulations on kratom—and several have banned its most dangerous components altogether. It's time we follow suit with smart, science-backed policy that balances individual choice with public safety.

The longer we delay, the more vulnerable people will be put at risk—especially young adults who believe they’re buying something safe.

Sign this petition to demand state-level kratom regulation now.