Mission Viejo council introduces ordinance to ban kratom sales, schedules adoption

The Mission Viejo City Council on March 24 agreed to introduce an ordinance to ban the sale, distribution and advertising of kratom products in the city and scheduled formal adoption for the council's next regular meeting.

Planning and Economic Development Manager Cliff Jones told the council the proposed ordinance would add Chapter 11.26 to the municipal code and bar any product containing any part of the kratom leaf. "Kratom plant is a tropical evergreen tree," Jones said in his presentation, adding that kratom "is not approved by the FDA as a food, drug or dietary supplement" and that local jurisdictions have moved to prohibit the product because of health risks and unpredictable contents. Staff recommended introduction and placement on the next meeting agenda for adoption.

During public comment, resident Michael Rusher raised questions about whether state and other agencies already have restricted kratom, noting recent directives and high compliance among retailers. "It appears to have a high potential for abuse and even death," Rusher said, but he asked whether the ordinance would be redundant with recent state actions. Another speaker, Ed Arthur, described years of personal use of natural leaf kratom for chronic pain and urged the council to distinguish between traditional leaf products and synthesized concentrates: "It has been a godsend for me," he said.

Councilmembers debated enforcement, potential effects on residents who use kratom therapeutically, and whether the city should wait for state action. Councilmember Kelly moved to introduce the ordinance by title, waive further reading and schedule its adoption for the next regular meeting; Mayor Wendy Bucknam seconded the motion and the council approved the introduction. The ordinance is now set for formal adoption at the council's next scheduled meeting.