POUGHKEEPSIE – The Dutchess County Legislature voted unanimously Monday to ban a concentrated synthetic of version of kratom, 7-OH, for sale after County Executive Sue Serino sought a full ban on all kratom products.
Serino sought a full ban, not a partial on kratom products, and she spoke after a local woman, Sandy, talked about the loss of her son, Randy, who died from kratom.
“This is not political to me, it’s personal,” said Sandy. “My son is gone.”
Serino spoke next, echoing Sandy’s concern, urged a full ban, not a partial ban. She said she will continue to push for a full ban.
“By leaving kratom on the shelves, we are leaving our neighbors exposed to a product that has already taken lives,” said Serino. “The dangers of kratom are not hypothetical. They are real, and they are documented.”
Kratom, a natural plant that is not FDA approved as a supplement, increases energy in low amounts while high doses can be used as a sedative that helps relieve pain.
The legislature banned the sale of 7-OH, which is opiate-active chemical in kratom and sold as tablets or gummies. The synthetic 7-OH can be more powerful than morphine.
Assistant Majority Leader Kristofer Munn, a Democrat, said Serino did not get the Republican support she needed before the legislature’s meeting.
“It was submitted two or three hours before deadline with no sponsors attached,” he said. “She says this is so important to her, and they’ve been spending months on this. They didn’t come forward. If she’s disappointed it’s not on the agenda, she can look in the mirror and see why it’s not on the agenda.”
Comments