Orange County cities move to ban or restrict kratom sales

More than a dozen Orange County cities have moved to ban or tightly restrict kratom sales after county coroner records showed the substance was present in 33 local deaths over three years and the FDA flagged synthetic forms of the drug as a fatal overdose risk.

The wave of local ordinances follows a July 2025 FDA report warning that synthetic kratom products — particularly those concentrated with 7-hydroxymitragynine, a compound with opioid-like effects — are increasingly sold for recreational use without federal approval for any medical purpose.

The Fullerton City Council on April 21 unanimously approved initial review of an ordinance that would ban synthetic kratom products containing more than 2% 7-hydroxymitragynine while permitting natural leaf forms for customers at least 21 years old, Voice of OC reported. Mayor Fred Jung cited federal findings at the meeting. "The FDA warns that 7-OH — which is the compound that we're trying to eliminate and regulate the use of it — risks fatal overdose," Jung said. "Certainly that's occurred here in our community."

Mission Viejo took a stricter approach. Its City Council voted unanimously on April 14 to ban all kratom products regardless of concentration, according to Voice of OC. The final vote followed a preliminary approval on March 24 that surfaced disagreement over users who rely on the plant for pain management.

Councilmember Brian Goodell said a total ban risked harming chronic pain patients. "I am concerned that we might be throwing the baby out with the bath water and there might be people that do benefit from using the natural leaf form of the product," Goodell said at the March meeting. "We have gotten several emails from people in the community that use it and rely on it."

Councilmember Trish Kelley said protecting minors was the deciding factor. "Anything that we would put out there that could be a danger to our young people, I can't support having the availability like this in our city," Kelley said, adding that those with a medical need could still order online. Ed Arthur, a Mission Viejo resident who told council members he turned to natural kratom 15 years ago after back surgery to avoid opioids, called the plant "a god-sent" for managing his pain.

Newport Beach, Dana Point, Tustin and Stanton have already enacted complete bans on kratom sales, while Los Alamitos, Anaheim, Buena Park, Huntington Beach and Laguna Niguel have restricted products containing more than 2% 7-OH, Voice of OC reported. Federal regulators have not approved kratom for any medical use, as a food additive, dietary supplement or drug ingredient.

Fullerton's ordinance requires a second council vote before it takes effect. The article was reported by Angelina Hicks, Voice of OC Tracy Wood Reporting Fellow.