Particle.news
Download on the App Store
5 ARTICLES
·
2w ago

San Mateo County Becomes First Bay Area County to Ban Kratom Sales

Local leaders say unregulated high‑potency products posed an immediate health risk.

Kratom products, like these shown for sale last year at a tobacco store in Warren, Mich., are now banned in San Mateo County.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has identified Tropic Thunder Kratom Shot as containing 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) as an ingredient. The FDA has observed a proliferation of products containing 7-OH, and has serious concerns about products that containing. The concerns include the following: 1) 7-OH products have not been evaluated by FDA for safe use; 2) FDA has received adverse event reports associated with 7-OH containing products; and 3) 7-OH has been reported to have opioid-like effects. (FDA via Bay City News)

Overview

  • The Board of Supervisors, which voted 5–0 on Tuesday, outlawed sales of kratom and its alkaloid 7‑hydroxymitragynine in unincorporated areas of the county.
  • Selling or distributing these products is now a misdemeanor that can bring up to a $1,000 fine and six months in jail, and retailers risk losing tobacco and other county permits.
  • Officials cited FDA warnings about potent 7‑OH products and CDC data showing kratom exposure reports rose 1,200% to 3,434 in 2025, pointing to opioid‑like effects and inconsistent potency in shots, gummies, and tablets sold at smoke shops and gas stations.
  • A dozen speakers urged the county to distinguish whole‑leaf kratom from concentrated extracts, saying the leaf helps some manage chronic pain, but supervisors approved a blanket ban.
  • County leaders said the ordinance fills a regulatory gap while California steps up enforcement and weighs measures such as restricting sales to people under 21, which could later override local rules.