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BELLINGHAM, Wash. — The Bellingham City Council voted unanimously Monday evening to approve an emergency ordinance prohibiting the preparation, distribution and sale of kratom products within Bellingham city limits.
The ordinance passed 7-0 following discussion among members of the Bellingham City Council over the growing availability of kratom products, particularly highly concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine products commonly known as 7-OH.
Watch: Bellingham City Council meeting footage. Video via Bellingham Metro News.
The new restrictions are not limited to 7-OH.
The ordinance is written broadly enough to cover traditional kratom products made from the plant, kratom extracts and synthesized kratom material. That includes products containing synthetic mitragynine and synthetic 7-hydroxymitragynine.
Products covered by the ordinance can include powders, capsules, pills, beverages, liquids and other edible products containing kratom.
Retailers within Bellingham will also be prohibited from offering covered kratom products for sale. Violations of the ordinance can be treated as a gross misdemeanor.
The ordinance does not make possession or personal use of kratom illegal.
During Monday’s meeting, councilmembers made clear that the action is focused on the preparation, distribution and sale of the products within Bellingham. Councilmembers acknowledged that people may still be able to obtain kratom online or outside city limits.
Several members of the council also said they would prefer to see the issue addressed by state or federal regulators rather than through a patchwork of individual city ordinances.
Councilmember Michael Lilliquist said the city is not ideally equipped to regulate drugs such as kratom and raised concerns about the difficulty of distinguishing traditional leaf-based products from highly concentrated or synthetic products.
During his remarks, Lilliquist said the city was stepping in to address what he described as an emergency situation where people are “dying and are being hurt” by some forms and uses of the products. He did not identify specific Bellingham deaths during those remarks.
Lilliquist said a larger regulatory system capable of addressing manufacturing, testing, labeling and product concentrations would be preferable. He ultimately voted in favor of the ordinance while calling for state and federal officials to take a larger role.
Other councilmembers voiced similar concerns during the discussion, including the city’s limited ability to determine whether a product contains traditional kratom material or significantly stronger concentrations of certain compounds.
Councilmembers nevertheless supported removing the products from store shelves while broader regulation remains unsettled.
City officials have cited public health concerns surrounding kratom and concentrated 7-OH products, including the potential for misuse, dependence and other health effects. The city has also pointed to the availability of the products at convenience stores, smoke shops and other retailers, sometimes with packaging or labeling that officials believe does not clearly communicate potential risks.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has also raised concerns surrounding kratom and products containing kratom-derived compounds.
The local market for kratom and 7-OH has grown noticeably in recent years, with products now commonly found behind the counter at convenience stores and smoke shops.
Bellingham Metro News previously reported that kratom can represent a significant source of sales for some retailers. BMN’s reporting has also included firsthand experience from a reporter who worked in the local convenience store industry for approximately 20 months and regularly encountered kratom and 7-OH products being sold.
Bellingham is not the first Washington city to take action involving kratom. Spokane, Spokane Valley and Mount Vernon have also adopted regulations involving the products during 2026.
Federal attention has increasingly focused on concentrated 7-OH products as well. The Drug Enforcement Administration has taken steps during 2026 toward tighter federal controls involving 7-hydroxymitragynine and related substances.
Monday’s vote marks a major change from where the issue stood just days ago, when the ordinance remained only a proposal before the council.
Bellingham Metro News will continue following the ordinance, including when the restrictions take effect, how enforcement will be handled and how local retailers respond.
Cascadia Daily News was first to report on the proposed ordinance in the previous week. Bellingham Metro News independently reviewed the ordinance, city records and Monday evening’s City Council proceedings in preparing this report.
Need help with substance use? If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use, treatment and recovery resources are available locally. Whatcom County Health and Community Services provides information on local treatment options, crisis services and recovery resources. The Washington Recovery Help Line is also available 24 hours a day at 1-866-789-1511.
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