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Committee advances ordinance to restrict sale of kratom and certain inhalants to council
Summary
The committee voted to forward TMP-3624, a draft ordinance modeled on Kansas City's law, to the full council; the measure would prohibit sale/distribution of kratom products above defined potency and restrict sales of specified inhalants, include 21+ age limits and display rules, and may require future adjustments to align with state testing standards.
The Lee's Summit Community and Economic Development Committee voted on March 11 to advance TMP-3624, a draft ordinance that would regulate or prohibit the sale and display of kratom products and certain 'dangerous chemical inhalants,' to the full council for consideration.
Tracy Alers of Development Services said the ordinance "largely mimics" a recent Kansas City ordinance and focuses on prohibiting more dangerous substances while restricting lower-risk products to adult sales and behind-the-counter displays. The draft sets an age threshold of 21 for purchases and would make it unlawful to display kratom products in a manner accessible to those under 21.
Council members asked whether the proposal covers intoxicating hemp derivatives such as delta-8 and delta-9. Staff advised that intoxicating hemp products are being debated separately in the state legislature and that the KC ordinance’s scope had narrowed over time; if the legislature acts, the city may need to amend the ordinance to remain aligned with state law.
Major Walters of the Lee Summit Police Department said the department supports the ordinance for safety reasons and would partner on compliance checks similar to underage alcohol stings. City Attorney Brian Head cautioned that prosecution could be complicated by available chemical testing thresholds: the draft uses a percent-by-volume threshold (2%) while some tests and proposed state standards are expressed in parts-per-million, which could affect enforceability and require later revisions.
Committee members voted unanimously to advance the ordinance to council; members discussed building an educational outreach to local retailers and mapping which businesses currently sell these products to help enforcement planning. The ordinance, as drafted, included an effective-date window (June 1) that the council can amend.
The committee's action sends TMP-3624 to full council for formal consideration; staff and the city attorney flagged potential future adjustments depending on state action and laboratory testing standards.
