Scranton city officials, addiction advocates, and the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office are pushing for a new ordinance that would remove kratom from store shelves across the city. The legislation, introduced by City Councilman Patrick Flynn, aims to ban not only the sale but also the possession of the herbal substance within city limits. Proponents of the ban, including addiction specialist Joe Van Wie, argue that the drug has become increasingly potent and is fueling a rise in dependency among younger residents while causing frequent relapses for those in recovery programs.
The proposal is scheduled for an initial vote during the Scranton City Council meeting on Tuesday night. If the measure is ultimately adopted, the District Attorney’s Office plans to provide local retailers with an official notice and a grace period to clear their inventory before the city begins enforcing penalties or pursuing prosecution. While some business owners have noted that customers use the product for pain management, local leaders maintain that the ban is a necessary public safety measure to address a largely unregulated and addictive substance.
