Doug Robinson: Warning from resident to ban kratom and 7-OH in Laconia

To The Daily Sun,

Kratom and its derivative 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) threaten Laconia’s public health. Derived from the Southeast Asian tree Mitragyna speciosa, kratom is sold as a “natural” remedy for pain or opioid withdrawal, but it can cause addiction, liver damage, seizures, and even death. The FDA has warned about kratom’s risks. Poison control centers reported more than 3,400 kratom-related cases, many severe, between 2014 and 2019. Kratom acts as a stimulant at low doses and like an opioid at higher doses, leading to dependence and withdrawal symptoms similar to heroin.

7-OH is even more dangerous. It is up to 13 times more potent than morphine and is often sold in gummies, powders, and imitation treats that can attract children. Health departments nationwide are warning of respiratory depression, seizures, and overdose deaths involving 7-OH. The FDA has recommended scheduling 7-OH as a controlled substance because of its potential to fuel opioid addiction.

Our neighboring town Franklin has banned it. States like Alabama, Arkansas, Vermont, and Wisconsin have already banned kratom. Laconia can do the same. Allowing these substances in gas stations and smoke shops exposes citizens — especially youth and families — to unnecessary risks. This is not a symbolic gesture; it is practical, enforceable, and necessary. Our city must act before tragedy strikes, protecting neighborhoods, schools, and families from another wave of preventable addiction and loss.

Call your mayor and city council members. Urge them to ban kratom and 7-OH now, before more lives are affected. Laconia’s commitment to safety depends on decisive action, and citizens of Laconia must raise their voices loudly, clearly, and without delay.

Doug Robinson

Laconia