STERLING HEIGHTS KRATOM BAN: CITY COUNCIL VOTES TOMORROW — CONTACT COUNCIL NOW

The Sterling Heights City Council is voting tomorrow, Tuesday May 19 at 7:00 PM ET on a blanket kratom ban ordinance that would prohibit the sale and distribution of all kratom products citywide. The kratom ordinance is Item 8A on the agenda — Ordinance Adoptions — which comes after presentations and a public hearing, so the vote may occur later in the evening. Calls and emails to council members today can still make a difference. Here's what the ordinance would do, why it gets it wrong, and exactly what you need to do right now.

Take Action Now

Call and email every council member individually today. Do not mass-copy. The vote is tomorrow — every contact counts.

• 📅 Tuesday, May 19 at 7:00 PM ET

• 📍 Sterling Heights City Hall

• 🔗 Meeting agenda: publicdocs.sterling-heights.net

• ⚠️ Note: The kratom ordinance is Item 8A. Public comment (Item 11) is reserved for items NOT on the agenda and begins at 9:30 PM — calls and emails to council members today are the most impactful action available.

Sterling Heights City Council — Call and Email Individually

• Mayor Michael C. Taylor — (586) 333-9137 | mctaylor@sterlingheights.gov

• Mayor Pro Tem Liz Sierawski — (586) 230-3140 | lsierawski@sterlingheights.gov

• Councilman Robert Mijac — (586) 994-9110 | rmijac@sterlingheights.gov

• Councilman Michael V. Radtke Jr. — (586) 289-8788 | mradtke@sterlingheights.gov

• Councilwoman Maria G. Schmidt — (810) 499-5450 | mgschmidt@sterlingheights.gov

• Councilman Henry Yanez — (586) 333-9138 | hyanez@sterlingheights.gov

• Councilwoman Barbara A. Ziarko — (810) 499-5408 | bziarko@sterlingheights.gov

What to Say

Write and speak in your own words. Share your personal story — it is what local lawmakers remember most. Make these points:

• You are opposing the blanket kratom ban ordinance in Sterling Heights

• This proposal fails to distinguish between natural botanical kratom leaf, which has a long history of safe use, and dangerous synthetic compounds like synthetic 7-OH

• Instead of prohibition, adopt commonsense regulatory policies — age restrictions, mandatory third-party testing, and labeling requirements — that protect consumers without punishing responsible adults

• A total ban drives consumers toward unregulated, dangerous markets

• If kratom has supported your wellness, share your personal story

What the Proposed Ordinance Would Do

The proposed ordinance would amend Chapter 35 of the Sterling Heights City Code to ban the sale and distribution of kratom, and amend Chapters 35 and 49 to add new offenses and update existing provisions to conform with state law. In practice, this means prohibiting the sale and distribution of all kratom products citywide in Sterling Heights — with no distinction between natural kratom leaf and the synthetic, adulterated concentrates that federal regulators have actually identified as the real public health concern. No consumer protections. No age restrictions. No labeling requirements. Just prohibition.

If passed, here is what it would mean for Sterling Heights consumers:

• Total retail ban — kratom products would be removed from the shelves of all local convenience stores, smoke shops, and gas stations

• Criminalization — selling or distributing any form of kratom becomes a criminal offense, punishable by fines and other penalties under state law

• Loss of regulated access — consumers lose access to lab-tested, unadulterated products and may be pushed toward unregulated black market sources

• Economic impact — small businesses that serve responsible kratom consumers would be forced to stop carrying the product entirely

This is exactly the approach that science and federal policy have moved away from. The FDA has drawn a clear line between natural kratom and synthetic 7-OH products, identifying enhanced 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) concentrates as the real concern, not natural kratom leaf. The AHPA has similarly warned against conflating 7-OH with natural kratom. As research discussed on the Huberman Lab podcast and confirmed by an FDA study makes clear, these are fundamentally different products. A blanket ban ignores all of that and punishes the wrong people.

Michigan Is Already Fighting This Battle

Sterling Heights is not operating in isolation. The Michigan House has already passed HB 5537, a statewide kratom ban that is now before the Michigan Senate. If the Senate stops the statewide ban, local ordinances like Sterling Heights' could become the new front line. If the Senate passes it, local ordinances become irrelevant — but the fight continues.

For full background on the statewide fight, read our earlier coverage: Michigan Kratom Ban Alert: HB 5537 Passed the House — Senate Is the Last Stand

What is happening in Sterling Heights tomorrow is part of a broader pattern of local prohibition attempts that responsible kratom consumers and advocates are pushing back against across the state. Every council vote matters.

The Right Path Forward

The Kratom Consumer Protection Act, adopted in 18 states, is the proven framework for addressing legitimate public health concerns without criminalization. It combines lab testing requirements, age restrictions, clear labeling, and limits on synthetic alkaloids. It targets the products that pose real risks while keeping natural kratom accessible to responsible adults. Sterling Heights can follow that example — but only if council members hear from constituents before tomorrow night.

The Bigger Picture

Cities and counties that have chosen regulation over prohibition have consistently produced better outcomes for consumers and public health alike. The vote is tomorrow. Calls and emails today are the most impactful action available.

Contact every council member individually.

For the latest on kratom legality in Michigan and other states, visit our kratom legality map.