Orange County Bans Synthetic Kratom Sales Amid Health Concerns

Orange County Ordinance on Synthetic Kratom

• ⚠️ The Orange County Board of Supervisors has passed an ordinance to prohibit the sale, distribution, and possession of synthetic kratom products.
• 🎯 This ban targets products derived from kratom leaves that are chemically altered, not the natural leaves themselves.

Health Risks and Addiction Potential

• 💡 Experts state that while kratom leaves themselves may not be highly dangerous, they are used to create highly addictive drugs.
• 🔬 A laboratory process called oxidation transforms kratom leaves into 7-hydroxycorynanthe, which is 50 to 100 times stronger than regular kratom.
• 🧠 This synthesized substance, often called 7-OH-kratom, is identified as an opioid and is highly addictive, similar to fentanyl.
• 📈 Doctors have observed an increasing number of patients needing detoxification from these synthetic kratom products, with some cases rivaling those needing detox from fentanyl.

Accessibility and Target Audience

• 🛒 These dangerous synthetic kratom products are often found for sale at gas stations and vape shops.
• 🎭 Packaging for these products is designed to be attractive, with different colors and formats that can appeal to children.

Regulatory Actions

• 📌 Supervisor Janet Nguyen authored the ordinance, which passed its first reading, aiming to ban the sale of 7-OH-type products in unincorporated Orange County.
• 🌍 The products are already banned in 7 states and several local cities due to links to serious health issues and deaths.
• 🌐 There are also ongoing federal moves to add these types of synthetic kratom products to controlled substance lists.