Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Residents and experts clash over kratom regulation during lengthy Riverside public comment period
Summary
Dozens of callers and in-person speakers told the council about personal benefits, harms and deaths they associate with kratom and synthetic extracts; testimony split between calls to ban synthetic concentrates and appeals to regulate the natural leaf so users retain access. Speakers urged testing, labeling and a distinction between natural product and concentrated synthetics.
Dozens of residents and health professionals told the Riverside City Council on April 21 that the city’s proposed ordinance addressing kratom and related synthetic extracts requires careful drafting — while others urged an outright ban.
The public-comment block began in Spanish and continued for more than an hour, with callers and in-person speakers offering deeply personal accounts. Susan Aburd, a phone caller, described the death of a 22-year-old family member and urged the council to prohibit the product to prevent similar tragedies. ‘‘Por favor, les pido que prohíban esta droga,’’ she said, asking the council to act after describing a toxicology report she said found harmful compounds in a product her son used.
Other callers made the opposite case. Matthew McCallin, who identified himself as a Riverside resident, said prohibition would ‘‘increase…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
