A couple more Orange County cities could be joining the growing list of cities restricting kratom amid state and county bans and crackdowns being introduced.<\/p>\n
While some cities move to ban synthetic forms of kratom, advocates say the natural version of the plant can provide people with improved energy and focus.<\/p>\n
Dana Point introduced a ban on all kratom sales in the city at Tuesday\u2019s city council meeting, where it passed unanimously without much discussion, moving the ban to be approved at a future meeting.<\/p>\n
The proposed ban comes after reports of kratom being sold in the city, which led to the products being removed because of existing county regulations, according to Jeff Rosaler, interim director of community development at the meeting.<\/p>\n
What is Kratom?<\/p>\n
Kratom is a tree from Southeast Asia and its leaves can be used as both a stimulant at low doses and a sedative at higher doses, and reportedly helps some users with opioid addiction and withdrawal, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration<\/a>.<\/p>\n The natural leaf, when dried, can be taken in low doses and is used to boost energy \u2013 a similar effect to caffeine.<\/p>\n However, a component of the leaf known as 7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH, has an opioid-like effect when taken in larger quantities than naturally occur in the plant, which is about 2% of its total alkaloid content.\u00a0<\/p>\n Products with high concentrations of 7-OH are developed to create a high for users and are labeled as a synthetic kratom product after being significantly altered from its original source.<\/p>\n \u201cNatural kratom leaf has been used for centuries for energy, for focus and for its functional benefits,\u201d said Matthew Lowe, executive director of the Global Kratom Coalition, in an interview. \u201cThe majority of people are using it like they would use caffeine. On the other hand, the concentrated synthetics are being used as a proxy for a traditional opioid.\u201d<\/p>\n Abuse of the drug can cause neurological effects, like dizziness, drowsiness and confusion, according to Mayo Clinic<\/a>.<\/p>\n Garden Grove\u2019s Proposed Ban<\/p>\n Earlier this month, Garden Grove voted unanimously to push back a discussion on an ordinance banning all kratom sales in the city and restricting nitrous oxide sales.<\/p>\n Council members split the ordinance into two \u2013 one law for each drug.<\/p>\n At the Feb. 10 meeting, Councilmember George Brietigam supported the ordinance as-is, bringing up the lack of ability to regulate kratom driving his support for the total ban.<\/p>\n \u201cI look at this as a positive thing,\u201d Brietigam said at the meeting. \u201cThere\u2019s no way for us to open up a lab. It would be very cost prohibitive to test every little bit and see if it was over a certain level, or under a certain level, you really couldn\u2019t do that \u2013 not a city our size.\u201d<\/p>\n Councilmember Joe DoVinh argued the ordinance could be redundant if a state law makes synthetic kratom sales a misdemeanor, and voiced concern that the ban would harm small businesses selling kratom products.<\/p>\n \u201cIt hurts the little guy, it hurts small businesses,\u201d DoVinh said at the meeting. \u201cI\u2019m in favor of an advisory where we advise the business operator \u2018you don\u2019t sell it to minors.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Because the council didn\u2019t reach a consensus, Mayor Stephanie Klopfenstein suggested that council push the discussion out two weeks for city staff to provide additional data to council.<\/p>\n The proposed ordinance<\/a> looks to ban sales of kratom products \u2013 synthetic and natural \u2013 because of their \u201copioid-like effects, lack of regulatory oversight, and demonstrated risk of abuse, dependence, and adverse health outcomes.\u201d<\/p>\n Whippets, also known as \u201cgalaxy gas\u201d or \u201claughing gas,\u201d is recreational nitrous oxide, and can be inhaled to produce a high<\/a>.<\/p>\n While Garden Grove\u2019s proposed ordinance would stop nitrous oxide from being sold for recreational purposes, it would still be available for purchase for culinary use, as a vehicle performance enhancer, and for dental and medical use.<\/p>\n Abuse of the inhalant can lead to neurological damage, like spinal cord and brain damage, according to the FDA<\/a>.<\/p>\n Following a move made by Orange County Supervisors<\/a> to ban the sale of whippets in unincorporated areas, cities like Fullerton<\/a>, Costa Mesa<\/a> and Santa Ana<\/a> have brought in their own restrictions.<\/p>\n Despite the following suit by many OC cities, Irvine decided against adopting an ordinance of their own against whippets, citing state laws already prohibiting the use of the inhalant to get high.<\/p>\n [Read: As More Orange County Cities Crack Down on Whippets, Irvine Sidesteps Ban<\/a>]<\/p>\n The decision to postpone the kratom and whippet bans comes after Garden Grove pushed back a discussion on smoking in public parks, citing that they needed more time to discuss wording and review local ordinances on Jan. 27.<\/p>\n [Read: Garden Grove Pauses Proposed Smoking Ban<\/a>]<\/p>\n How is Kratom Regulated?\u00a0<\/p>\n Kratom regulations have been spreading across the county and state with varying levels of restriction, the difference in crackdowns coming from various forms of the drug and their effects.<\/p>\n [Read: More Orange County Cities Crack Down on Kratom<\/a>]<\/p>\n Because the drug can come in natural leaf and synthetic form, regulations vary widely in their content, from banning just synthetic products, to sweeping bans, like Garden Grove proposed.<\/a><\/p>\n Orange County currently bans the sale of synthetic kratom<\/a> in unincorporated areas, which is any product containing more than 2% of 7-OH.<\/p>\n The county allows the sale of natural kratom, as long as it meets packaging requirements, like child-resistant features, and sales are restricted to those over 21.<\/p>\n \u201cThe wise policy is to regulate with precision: maintain the access to the natural leaf, ensure that it\u2019s adult access \u2013 that\u2019s important \u2013 and prohibit these dangerous synthetics,\u201d Lowe said.<\/p>\n