Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Health Substances topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council hears public comment on draft ordinance to ban synthetic 7‑hydroxy kratom
Summary
A council sponsor introduced a draft ordinance to ban the sale of synthetic 7‑hydroxy kratom while preserving natural kratom; a nonresident manufacturer testified and warned narrow bans can lead to rapid reformulation, and council members suggested referral to the health board and alignment with pending state action.
A sponsor of an ordinance asked the Independence City Council on Feb. 9 to consider banning the sale of synthetic 7‑hydroxy kratom while allowing the sale of kratom in its natural state. The sponsor said the draft is not final and that first and second readings were tentatively scheduled in March but could change as councilors refine language.
Todd Underwood, who said he operates an FDA‑registered kratom manufacturing facility, told the council his company follows 21 CFR requirements, carries product liability insurance and recently filed a dietary ingredient notification with the Food and Drug Administration for its product. "We have over 22,000,000 bottles that we sold last year without 1 single adverse reporting event," Underwood said, and added he supports banning synthetic 7‑hydroxy while protecting natural leaf kratom.
Underwood cautioned that narrowly banning a single molecule would likely prompt manufacturers to create chemically similar alternatives. "If anybody remembers spice... they banned that molecule, and 30 days later they had an additional molecule," he said, urging the council to consider language that covers non‑natural or synthetic products rather than a single compound.
At least one council member suggested the city ask the Board of Health to review the issue so the ordinance’s language is careful and informed. That councilor also urged the draft be consistent with any state legislation that might pass to avoid having to amend the ordinance later. The sponsor agreed to consider those recommendations.
No formal vote was taken on the ordinance itself at the study session; councilors approved a separate procedural motion to allow Underwood, a nonresident, to speak. Staff and councilors said they will continue to refine the draft and coordinate with legal and public‑health officials before scheduling a formal first reading.
What happens next: the sponsor signaled willingness to revise the ordinance text and to coordinate timing with the council and city staff. Council members suggested seeking Board of Health input and ensuring consistency with pending state action before advancing the measure.
