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Committee asks solicitor to draft ordinance to ban kratom and concentrated '7O' for borough review
Summary
After hearing public‑health concerns and local reporting of deaths, the committee asked the solicitor to draft a borough ordinance to prohibit manufacture, sale and public consumption of kratom and a concentrated form called '7O,' then moved the item to full council for discussion.
The Public Safety Quality of Life Committee on June 9 directed staff to ask the borough solicitor to prepare a formal ordinance to prohibit the manufacture, sale, distribution and public consumption of kratom and a highly concentrated derivative referred to in discussion as “7O.” Presenters highlighted scientific and public‑health warnings, and community speakers cited investigative reporting and local deaths linked to the product.
A resident who identified himself as Bernie Flynn asked whether Greek‑life organizations receive university funding for parties; a Westchester University representative replied from the lectern that "There's no university funding that's being given to the students for parties. Period." That exchange took place in a broader conversation about student gatherings but underscored resident concerns about on‑campus and off‑campus events where kratom and other unregulated substances could be sold or distributed.
Jeff (resident) presented background to the committee: kratom is an unregulated plant product from Southeast Asia that acts on opioid receptors, and the FDA has described it as a product of concern. The draft ordinance presented would prohibit manufacture, processing, packaging, distribution and public consumption within borough limits and include exemptions for medically‑prescribed products.
Some committee members raised enforcement and policy‑precedent questions, noting the product sits in a federal and state gray area and that bans of legal but unregulated products can push sales into informal markets. "Banning is not the whole answer," one council member said, asking how enforcement would work and what precedent it would set for other supplements.
Chief Josh Lee said the police had not seen local overdoses tied to kratom but acknowledged the broader public‑health reports and encouraged a careful approach. The committee voted to move the request to draft an ordinance to full council for further discussion and public hearing preparation rather than adopt language at this meeting.
Next steps identified: the solicitor will draft formal ordinance language modeled on neighboring municipalities; full council will consider the draft and schedule required public hearings before any adoption.
