The Pocatello City Council moved forward with a proposed ordinance to prohibit commercial sales of kratom within city limits. The measure follows a work session where members discussed the regulatory gap left by the state legislature and aligned their efforts with Bannock County commissioners pursuing a similar restriction.
Pocatello Police Department Licensing Enforcement Officer Mallarie Bascom presented the draft language to council members. The proposal mirrors restrictions adopted in Idaho Falls and defines kratom broadly. The definition includes any part of the Mitragyna speciosa plant, extracts, synthetic or semisynthetic versions, and specific compounds such as 7-hydroxymitragynine.
The ordinance targets retailers rather than individual consumers. Under the proposed rules, businesses would be barred from selling kratom products in Pocatello stores. However, the measure does not criminalize possession or personal use. Residents could still purchase the substance online or travel outside city boundaries to buy it legally.
Local Health Concerns Drive Action
Officials cited rising health data as a primary motivation for local bans. State records show at least 83 kratom-related overdoses in Idaho since 2020. Poison center reports involving the substance increased by approximately 1,200 percent between 2015 and 2025, reaching more than 3,400 incidents in 2025 alone.
Bannock County Commissioner Jeff Hough noted that commissioners met with Denae Jones, whose 23-year-old niece died from kratom-related issues. The county board aims to have its own sales ban effective by the beginning of November. While a countywide ordinance would technically cover sales inside Pocatello, Hough emphasized the importance of the city adopting its own independent measure.
Kratom is an herbal product derived from a Southeast Asian tree. It acts as a stimulant at low doses and produces sedative, opioid-like effects at higher doses. The Food and Drug Administration has not approved kratom for any medical use and advises against its consumption.
Council Debate on Adult Use
During the discussion, council members Dakota Bates, Corey Mangum, and Stacy Satterfield voiced support for advancing the ban. Mayor Mark Dahlquist stated he heard a clear desire among his colleagues to move the ordinance forward after the roughly 20-minute work session.
Council member Corey Mangum raised concerns about individuals who use kratom to manage pain or alleviate opioid withdrawal symptoms. He questioned whether the ban would deprive adults of a tool they rely on for relief. Despite these concerns, the council consensus held that protecting youths from access outweighed the potential impact on adult users seeking alternative remedies.
Idaho currently lacks statewide regulations for kratom. There is no age limit, testing requirement, labeling standard, or licensing mandate for sellers. Legislation in 2026 to classify kratom as a Schedule I controlled substance or to impose strict sales regulations failed to pass the legislature. Bascom expects the issue to return to lawmakers in 2027.
Enforcement and Regional Context
Bascom outlined an enforcement plan that includes identifying retailers, launching public information campaigns, conducting compliance visits, and issuing citations for violations. No official date has been set for the final Pocatello City Council vote on the ordinance.
Pocatello joins several other Idaho jurisdictions in restricting kratom sales. Idaho Falls adopted a ban on June 5 after reviewing six kratom-related deaths among residents aged 19 to 42 over an 18-month period. Blackfoot also banned sales within city limits, though it created an exception for low-7-OH dried leaf used for tea. Kellogg, Bonneville County, and Bingham County have taken similar actions regarding kratom restrictions.
With the state legislature inactive on the issue, local governments in Southeast Idaho are taking independent steps to regulate the substance. The Pocatello ordinance remains pending a final vote, while Bannock County prepares to implement its broader restriction next month.