Suffolk County elected officials, as well as agency heads and local law enforcement, took part in a press conference in Hauppauge on July 30 for the signing into law a bill that will place restrictions on the sale of Kratom and its synthetic derivatives and a ban on Tianeptine, also known as “gas station heroin.”
The bill restricting Kratom sales — sponsored by Deputy Presiding Officer James Mazzarella (R-Mastic) — and the Tianeptine ban — sponsored by Legislator Chad Lennon (R,C-Rocky Point) — unanimously passed the Legislature after extended public hearings and extensive discussion, debate, and amendment. County Executive Ed Romaine signed the measures into law following the press conference.
“After months of public hearings and discussions with residents, medical professionals, law enforcement officials, and business owners, the Legislature approved a balanced approach that targets dangerous synthesized and adulterated kratom products while protecting responsible adult consumers,” Mazzarella said. “This legislation strengthens oversight through independent third-party testing, maintains restrictions on sales to individuals under the age of 21, and puts public safety first. I am proud that we are taking these dangerous products off store shelves before they have the opportunity to cause further harm to our residents.”
“This bipartisan effort demonstrates again how seriously we take our primary duty as lawmakers: ensuring public safety,” Lennon added. “Together, we stand at the forefront of the fight against substance abuse and remain committed to being proactive when dealing with matters related to public health.”
“Suffolk County took decisive action to protect its residents from synthetic Kratom products and so-called ‘gas station heroin,’” Romaine said. “Law enforcement and the health department now have the tools necessary to keep these products off our shelves and away from our children.”
“These matters were before the public numerous times, and we created, I think, the best bill that could have been created in dealing with the Kratom issue and with the synthetic 7-OH. So, I just want to thank both of my colleagues in the Legislature, and I also want to thank the County Executive, who has been in office now for two and a half years and has never vetoed a piece of legislation that we sent him,” said Presiding Officer Anthony A. Piccirillo.
“I think that speaks to the work we do, across the aisle with all of our colleagues, to produce the best governance possible, protecting the people of Suffolk County,” said Presiding Officer Anthony A. Piccirillo (R-Holbrook). “This is a great day for Suffolk County, a great day for public safety, and a great day to show the residents that we care about what’s happening in the stores in our community. I look forward to enforcing this law and making sure that we’re creating a safer Suffolk County.”
Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina warned the people about the dangers of these drugs.
“Anyone who says that Kratom and its derivatives, or Tianeptine, are safe natural substances is lying for financial gain. These are not safe substances,” he said. “They’re not safe for anybody to consume unregulated. So I want to thank the Suffolk County Legislature, our County Executive, the Health Department, and everyone else who helped in passing and advancing these commonsense laws.”