The City of Riverside is making moves to regulate the sale of kratom products within its city limits.
At the Tuesday, July 7 meeting of the Riverside Board of Aldermen, Chief Chris Skinrood spoke on an ordinance enacting new city code related to the sale of kratom and other related products. The new ordinance prohibits the retail sale of “intoxicating alkaloid products,” restricts the sale of kratom products to persons 21 years of age or older, requires age verification, and regulates the display and marketing of kratom products.
Under the new ordinance, kratom products means any product, including food, beverages or dietary supplements, containing any part of the leaf of the plant Mitragyna speciosa or an extract thereof. Kratom products shall not include intoxicating alkaloid products. Those intoxicating alkaloid products means any product containing alkaloids derived from the plant Mitragyna speciosa that have been isolated, extracted, or concentrated to produce a psychoactive or intoxicating effect, including: 7-Hydroxymitragynine (“7-OH”) in concentrations exceeding two percent of the total alkaloid composition of the product; Mitragynine Pseudoindoxyl; Concentrated Mitragynine extracts; any alkaloid or alkaloid derivative of the plant Mitragyna speciosa that has been created by chemical synthesis or biosynthetic means rather than traditional food preparation techniques such as heat or extracting; or any synthetic isomer or derivative of Mitragynine intended to produce psychoactive effects.
Skinrood said the ordinance primarily targets any product that is not naturally derived. Currently, some of the derivative products are marketed and sold in consumer-friendly forms, including flavored products, gummies, beverages, shots and similar products, which may increase the risk of youth access, accidental ingestion, mistaken consumer perception regarding potency and safety, and use by persons under 21 years of age.
“It’s in stores and people don’t even know what it is,” said Mayor Kathy Rose.
The ordinance was given its first and second reading at the July 7 meeting, and passed into law. It will take effect 60 days after the approval.