San Mateo County Becomes First To Ban Kratom

SAN MATEO, CA — San Mateo County on Tuesday became the first county in the Bay Area to ban the sale of kratom, a substance that state health officials say has been found to cause harm and addiction.

“There are known health risks due to kratom and its alkaloid derivatives, including overdoses, deaths and other adverse effects,” said San Mateo County Public Health Officer Dr. Kismet Baldwin-Santana at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting. “Anything that we can do to be proactive and prevent any overdoses and deaths, it would be much appreciated.”

Kratom is a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia that acts on opioid receptors and can produce stimulant and sedative effects, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Kratom contains the alkaloid 7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH, which can be extracted from the leaves and synthesized into highly concentrated products such as liquid extract shots, gummies, drink mixes and tablets. It is sold at retailers like smoke shops and gas stations.

While often marketed as an herbal supplement, kratom products can lead to addiction and potential overdose, according to the California Department of Public Health. From 2020 to 2022, 27 people died in California due to kratom.

In recent years, exposure to kratom has surged across the country, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The National Poison Data System, which tracks data from poison control centers nationwide, found that reports of kratom exposure increased by 1,200% in 2025 compared to 2015.

Kratom is not banned at the federal level, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued stark warnings against kratom and 7-OH use and does not regulate kratom products. Because kratom and 7-OH-containing products are not FDA-approved, they are illegal to sell as drug products.

“Customers face exposure to products with highly variable potency, zero standardized manufacturing oversight and well-documented links to severe addiction and overdose,” said Supervisor Ray Mueller.

There is also no comprehensive statewide law banning kratom. The lack of explicit laws banning kratom has made enforcement challenging, but Gov. Gavin Newsom began escalating crackdowns on kratom sales this year through existing food and drug safety laws. There has been state legislation introduced to explicitly ban kratom sales for those under 21, but it is still underway.

“It’s created a frustrating gray area,” Mueller said.

Mueller, who introduced the ordinance, said he first became aware of local sales of kratom when he saw a large banner outside a smoke shop in Menlo Park marketing the substance. He tried to get state authorities to step in, but months of delays to coordinate enforcement became a challenge.

“We had to wait,” Mueller said. “During that entire time, frankly, I was incredibly frustrated knowing that kids could walk into that shop and purchase.”

Supervisor Jackie Speier agreed that taking local action is needed to allow the county to circumvent possible enforcement delays from the state.

“The state may, in fact, through the Legislature, take action at some point,” she said. “But it’s also always slow, and the special interests are very powerful there. So I’m grateful to you for taking this action.”

Supporters of the ban framed the ordinance as a precautionary response to what they called a fast-growing, poorly regulated market. Supervisors said the measure gives the county enforcement tools it previously lacked and could serve as a model for other jurisdictions watching how San Mateo implements the ban.

Officials also expressed concern about the rise of high-potency products that can resemble energy shots, candy or supplements and may be attractive to younger consumers. They argued that products sold in smoke shops and gas stations often come with inconsistent labeling, unclear dosage information and little consumer oversight.

A dozen members of the public spoke during public comment, urging the board to modify the ordinance to ban 7-OH products only and differentiate between natural leaf kratom and 7-OH. Several shared personal testimony about using kratom leaf to help with issues like pain management.

“I spent years struggling to manage my chronic pain until I discovered whole leaf kratom powder in 2019,” said kratom advocate Jennifer Gillis at the meeting. “It truly gave me my life back. My story is not unique, and kratom has been a lifeline for so many people like me who just want to live meaningful lives.”

But both kratom leaf and 7-OH, the highly concentrated and synthetic version, are not FDA-approved and remain unregulated. County officials said separating the products for enforcement purposes would be difficult in a marketplace where potency and ingredients can vary dramatically.

The Board of Supervisors voted to approve the ban. The ordinance makes it a misdemeanor to sell or distribute both kratom and 7-OH products. Retailers in violation could lose permits to sell tobacco products and other licenses issued by the county.

The measure may also increase pressure on state lawmakers debating broader kratom regulation. Supervisors said local governments are increasingly forced to act when emerging intoxicants reach store shelves faster than state or federal regulation can keep pace.

While some may oppose a blanket ban of all kratom products, the state could later introduce legislation to make exceptions.

“In the future, the state may pass legislation to carve out exceptions, which will preempt the county ordinance adopted,” Mueller said. “But until that time, it’s an unacceptable risk to our community to wait.”

Alise Maripuu, Bay City News
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