The Global Kratom Coalition (GKC) today commended the Orange County Board of Supervisors and specifically Supervisor Janet Nguyen for introducing an ordinance to regulate the sale, distribution, and possession of kratom within Orange County.
The ordinance establishes commonsense measures designed to protect consumers while maintaining access to natural leaf kratom for responsible adult use. Key provisions include:
- A minimum age requirement of 21 for kratom purchase,
- Prohibition of marketing or sales to minors, and
- Strict limits on 7-hydroxymitragynine content, banning synthetically manipulated products containing unnaturally high levels of 7-OH.
The last provision is particularly significant, as it effectively removes dangerous, synthetic, concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) opioid products from store shelves, protecting consumers from highly potent and addictive substances.
The GKC notes that this ordinance aligns with federal and state public health initiatives. On July 29, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced its intention to schedule concentrated synthetic 7-hydroxymitragynine as a controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act. Following the FDA’s announcement, the state of Florida enacted similar measures to restrict these products, which are often falsely marketed as kratom.
"We applaud Supervisor Nguyen and the Orange County Board of Supervisors for taking proactive steps to protect consumers,” said Matthew Lowe, Executive Director of the Global Kratom Coalition. “This ordinance ensures that natural kratom remains accessible to responsible adults while keeping dangerous concentrated synthetic 7-OH products off the shelves. We urge other municipalities in California and across the U.S. to consider similar measures to safeguard public health."
The Global Kratom Coalition remains committed to supporting policies that distinguish natural leaf kratom from synthetic, concentrated opioid derivatives, ensuring access to safe products while promoting responsible use.
About Global Kratom Coalition
The Global Kratom Coalition is an alliance of kratom consumers, experts, and industry leaders dedicated to protecting access to kratom while advancing scientific research, driving consumer education, and developing robust regulations to protect consumers. For more information, visit globalkratomcoalition.org.
Media Contact
Patrick George
+1 916-202-1982
info@globalkratomcoalition.org
