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Kern County board asks public health to draft ordinance to restrict kratom sales to minors
Summary
Supervisor Flores asked the county public health department and county counsel to draft a prospective ordinance to ban kratom sales to minors and propose graduated citations; the board moved, seconded and the chair recorded 'All ayes'.
Supervisor Philip Flores told the Kern County Board of Supervisors he has received reports from hospitals and emergency rooms about rising use of kratom and asked staff to prepare an ordinance that would ban sales to minors and outline a graduated citation structure for sellers.
"There is a drug that's out there, kind of a homeopathic, unregulated drug... it's known as baby meth and baby fentanyl all in 1," Flores said, characterizing health‑concern reports his office and Supervisor Peters had received. He cited other counties — naming Orange and Fresno — as examples that have adopted ordinances and asked public health and county counsel to return with a proposed ordinance in 30 to 60 days.
The chair called for a motion, the board recorded a second and the motion was approved with the chair announcing "All ayes." The board’s action refers the matter to the public health department and county counsel to draft an ordinance; the proposed ordinance would need subsequent board review and formal adoption to take effect.
The transcript records Flores’ description of kratom and his request to draft an ordinance; it does not include additional public‑health data or a departmental response on enforcement details in the supplied segments.
