Idaho Falls City Council bans local sale of kratom
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IDAHO FALLS — The city council unanimously voted to ban the sale of kratom within city limits on Thursday night. The ordinance will take effect on July 1.
The ban does not prohibit the possession of kratom, only the sale.
The council’s decision came after months of consideration and was prompted by the Bonneville County Coroner’s Office issuing a public warning about kratom.
RELATED: Coroner issues warning following six kratom-related deaths in Bonneville County
Earlier in Thursday’s meeting, people spoke for and against the ban.
One individual from Meridian said her 23-year-old daughter died in Bonneville County in March 2025, from an overdose of mitragynine — the primary psychoactive alkaloid found in kratom. She said her daughter didn’t use kratom extracts, only the loose leaf, and it still took her life.
“She was funny, she was loved, she mattered,” the woman said. “I will forever have an empty seat at my dinner table. I will never have a daughter to get married or have children of her own. She should still be here. I respectfully ask you to protect the community and support a ban on kratom.”
Others told the council that many people depend on kratom as a pain reliever. Many said they still support the regulation of kratom but not a full ban on sales.
“I have a recurring back injury, and it goes like this every time: for two or three days, I will be in serious pain. I will not be able to tie my shoes. I will not be able to help my wife with our five-year-old and two-year-old. It will take me 30 minutes just to get out of bed,” said one man from Meridian who said he owns an online kratom shop.
“But with kratom, I can at least function,” he continued. “But I’m one of the lucky ones. I’m not in pain every day. For others, this is life or death. They are in excruciating pain every day, and it does not stop. They use natural leaf kratom because they want to function.”
When Thursday’s meeting turned to the city council for deliberation, all spoke in favor of the ordinance. Councilman Jim Francis said even those whom he’s talked to who are against the ban told him there should be some regulation on kratom products, such as concentrates.
Councilman John Radford said the city has no means to do a partial regulation of kratom products through the regular testing of store products. Earlier this week, Idaho Falls Police Chief Bryce Johnson told the city council that there is no presumptive test for kratom like with controlled substances, so law enforcement would have a difficult time determining what kind of kratom products stores are actually selling.
RELATED: Idaho Falls City Council hears from coroner, sheriff, police chief on dangers of kratom
“The reason I’m supporting this tonight is because we don’t have the resources to do the nuanced approach to regulation,” Radford said.
Councilman Jim Freeman said he believes Idaho Falls’ kratom ordinance will push the state to regulate kratom products, similar to how hands-free cell phone ordinances pushed the state to enact a statewide law.
Councilwoman Michelle Ziel-Dingman, who originally brought the kratom issue before the council, said it’s not ideal for localities to oversee the potency of products and all the factors that make them safe. She said it’s much better handled at the state level. So, city governments have limited ability to protect consumers.
“I recognize that kratom will continue to be sold online, in other cities and counties, but this ordinance makes it clear where our community stands on this drug,” Ziel-Dingman said.