City Council Regular Meeting - 5.3 Consideration of a Request by Councilmember Liu to Discuss an Ordinance Prohibiting and/or Restricting the Sale, Possession, or Distribution of Kratom

Sep 2, 2026

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City Council Regular Meeting agenda item 5.3 requests discussion of a proposed ordinance prohibiting and/or restricting the sale, possession, or distribution of kratom. Public comments include residents urging the council to oppose a ban, arguing kratom and 7-oh are naturally derived, useful for pain relief, and should be regulated through labeling, quality control, and limits. Other comments support prohibition citing mitragynine intoxication, addiction concerns, and public safety, urging scheduling or bans across local jurisdictions.

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CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING

5.3 Consideration of a Request by Councilmember Liu to Discuss an Ordinance Prohibiting and/or Restricting the Sale, Possession, or Distribution of Kratom

Public Comments

| October 14, 2025 | | | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING | | | | | | | 5.3 CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST BY COUNCILMEMBER LIU TO DISCUSS AN ORDINANCE PROHIBITING AND/OR RESTRICTING THE SALE, POSSESSION, OR DISTRIBUTION OF KRATOM | | | | | | | Name | City | Zip | Comments | Position | Time Submitted | | Janice Dempsey | Farmville, NC | 27828 | Please do not ban Kratom or 7oh, please regulate, remove from smoke shops so that it is not easily accessible but please do not punish responsible users. I am wheel chair bound because of a terrible accident a number of years ago. I am a responsible user. Please consider labeling packaging and consider the amount you can purchase in a time period perhaps. So many rely on this herbal substance for pain relief. | Oppose | 10/14/25 8:58 PM | | Bonni Cutler | Irvine, CA | 92603 | To the Honorable Members of the City Council,
My name is Bonni Cutler, a 59-year-old resident. I live with Rheumatoid Arthritis and neuropathy. For years, my pain was too severe for over-the-counter medication, but not enough for prescription narcotics—which I wanted to avoid. Discovering kratom in 2013 was transformative. It gave me the relief I needed to reclaim my life.
Before kratom, I was a “couch potato” with no energy beyond resting. After starting, I earned a Master’s degree, received a promotion, and now enjoy an active social life on weekends.
I respectfully urge you to consider stories like mine. For many, kratom is a safe, effective alternative that lets us be productive, contributing members of the community.
Sincerely, Bonni Cutler | Oppose | 10/14/25 7:11 PM | | John Cleveland | Boston, MA | 2116 | 7-OH is a naturally occurring component of the kratom plant. It's not a “designer drug,” nor a novel, lab-synthesized chemical being snuck into smoke shops. It’s what your liver – your body’s most vital filter – converts kratom into after you ingest it.
More than one million Americans have consumed 7-OH. Over one billion servings have been sold. Yet, there are no confirmed deaths from 7-OH used in isolation-even according to the FDA's own data.
Many 7-OH consumers report successfully employing 7-OH to combat opioid withdrawal symptoms and opioid use disorder. If this product is banned, the market will only go underground, and consumers will turn to more potent, dangerous and unregulated options. This will lead to bad healthcare outcomes and increased healthcare costs.
Don't ban 7-OH; regulate it responsibly and ensure continued consumer access to this life-changing compound. | Oppose | 10/14/25 4:12 PM | | KELLI MCCANN | Fairfield, MT | 59436 | My name is Kelli McCann. I am writing to urge you to ban the sale and distribution of kratom in Irvine. My son Benjamin Wilcock died from acute mitragynine intoxication on 9/12/24 at 40 years of age. He took it to manage his psoriatic arthritis pain. He was led to believe that it was a safe and healthy alternative to prescription drugs and about as addictive as coffee. This false belief cost him his life, and it cost me my oldest child and only son.
Simple regulation will not protect consumers from the dangers of kratom. In fact, it may increase a false sense of safety and create a belief the issues surrounding kratom have been resolved.
It is crucial that kratom be scheduled or banned in the interest of public safety. Numerous families have experienced tremendous loss and heartbreak because of it. Sadly, there will continue to be more tragedies unless all our cities and/or states take a stand and ban this dangerous product.
Sincerely, Kelli McCann | Support | 10/14/25 3:57 PM | | Ryan Robles | Northridge, CA | 91324 | Please take the time to read the following research. Thank you very much: Systematic Information Control and Narrative Engineering: The Case of Kratom
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FAQs

What ordinance topic is City Council considering under agenda item 5.3?

The council is considering a request to discuss an ordinance prohibiting and/or restricting the sale, possession, or distribution of kratom.

What reasons do some commenters give for opposing a ban?

Opponents argue kratom and 7-oh are naturally occurring, help manage pain or withdrawal, and that bans would reduce access while pushing use underground. They often request regulation instead, such as labeling, purity testing, and purchase limits.

What reasons do commenters give in support of banning or scheduling kratom?

Supporters cite safety concerns, including alleged mitragynine intoxication deaths and claims that regulation alone may not protect consumers. They urge scheduling or bans for public safety and cite preventable harm to families.

Sep 2, 2026

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