Schoharie County Board Enacts Ban on Kratom

SCHOHARIE COUNTY — Citing the public welfare, the Schoharie County Board of Supervisors at its Friday, Oct. 16 meeting voted to approve a new Local Law imposing a prohibition on the sale, marketing and purchase of Kratom and all derivatives thereof in the county.

According to the law, which takes effect upon filing with the New York Secretary of State's office, the ban includes "any and all alternative trade names or brands which incorporate Kratom-based ingredients, derivatives, synthetics and all other forms that include Kratom."

It continues that the BOS has "recognized there are potential serious and imminent public health, welfare, safety and security concerns presented by the sale, marketing and purchase of Kratom that present a significant hazard to the public.

"The FDA (Federal Drug Administration) has issued an alert regarding consuming Kratom and its ingredients in any of its forms and derivatives thereof regardless of form and methods of consumption."

The Local Law authorizes the county Department of Public Health, Sheriff's Department, New York State Police or any other federal law enforcement agency to "conduct regulatory inspections of entities suspected of Kratom marketing, sales and promotional advertisement and to pursue enforcement actions and remedies against such entities or persons."

The ban does not include FDA-approved Kratom dispensed by a licensed pharmacist consistent with a prescription from a local physician.

In other matters from the Oct. 16 meeting, the BOS heard another update and presentation from Cassandra Majestic of Destination Marketing on the firm's efforts to promote tourism in the county.

She said the booklet produced by the firm, Upstate Vacations, is "flying off the shelves" and the new website upstatevacations.com is getting a good response.

"There are lots of great things happening," Majestic said. "Numbers are looking good and we're looking forward to carrying the momentum into 2027."

At the meeting, the BOS voted to approve a resolution designating Destination Marketing as the county's tourism promotion agency for Jan. 1, 2027 through Dec. 31, 2027. The resolution also states that the county "commits a maximum amount of $260,000 in year 2027 with matching funds from the I Love New York matching funds program, to then be tendered to Destination Marketing as the designated TPA."

A public hearing on enacting another six-month moratorium on biosolids in the county was postponed until the November meeting on a motion from Supervisor Alicia Terry of Gilboa, Chair of the county Agricultural Committee. The current six-month moratorium expires next month, she said.

Terry said a special counsel is working on strengthening language on some aspects of the moratorium.