FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 10, 2025
Latisha Townsend – Communications Director, Supervisor Foley
(714) 559-8364 | Latisha.Townsend@ocgov.com
Building on the Success of OC Vice Chair Katrina Foley’s Nitrous Oxide Ban, OC Board of Supervisors Ban Sale of Kratom
The OC Board of Supervisors passed the first step for a comprehensive ban on kratom. This development follows the successful ordinance led by Supervisor Foley, which saw the ban of illicit sales of nitrous oxide. Both measures underscore a commitment to addressing public safety concerns associated with unregulated substances.
ORANGE COUNTY, CA – The OC Board of Supervisors took necessary steps to ban the sale of kratom as the latest in a series of public health initiatives, inspired by the previous success of Supervisor Foley’s nitrous oxide ban. The Nitrous Oxide Ban was implemented after it became apparent that nitrous oxide misuse was contributing to a spike in health emergencies and criminal activity.
Kratom is an unregulated opioid-like herbal remedy that kills at high doses and offers, at low does, a psychedelic kind of effect. NBC News has labeled Kratom as ‘gas station heroin,’ and it poses a threat to Orange County residents.
The Cities of Newport Beach and San Diego have already banned it, as well as six states across the nation. Kratom may be sold over the counter, at vape shops, gas stations, and convenience stores.
“We’re witnessing Kratom’s marketing targeting people in sobriety, as if it will aid their recovery as a natural alternative. It is not safe. Kratom bars now operate openly throughout Southern California, offering mind-altering substances under the guise of legality, without regulation or medical oversight,” said Vice Chair Katrina Foley. “We know from our NOX ordinance that because this drug is new, this data doesn’t even fully reflect the prevalence of Kratom and the magnitude of harm it’s wreaked on our communities. I continue encouraging cities in my district to adopt similar ordinances.”
Kratom has gained widespread use for its purported benefits such as pain relief, anxiety reduction, and mood enhancement. However, recent studies and health reports have raised serious concerns about its safety. The substance has been linked to numerous adverse effects, including addiction, liver toxicity, and even fatalities.
The CDC has connected Kratom to hundreds of fatal overdoses since 2016. Similar to the NOX ordinance, this ban is essential for saving lives in Orange County, and our unincorporated areas.
The enactment of the kratom ban is part of a broader strategy to address the proliferation of unregulated and potentially harmful substances. Orange County Public Health Officials continue monitoring trends and emerging threats to public health, ready to take action as needed, including substance use treatment and recovery supports.
Residents are encouraged to stay informed, participate in educational programs, and support local authorities in their efforts to enforce the ban. By working together, the community can help mitigate the risks associated with kratom and contribute to a healthier, safer environment for all.
###
Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley was elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2022 to represent the newly established District 5, which includes the cities of Aliso Viejo, Costa Mesa, Dana Point, a large portion of Irvine, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Newport Beach, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, as well as the unincorporated areas of Coto de Caza, Emerald Bay, Ladera Ranch, Las Flores, Rancho Mission Viejo, Stonecliffe and Wagon Wheel. This is her second term on the Board of Supervisors, where she previously served District 2.
Vice Chair Foley’s 2025 Board appointments include:
Chair – Orange County Housing Finance Trust,
Orange County Audit Oversight Committee,
Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA),
Vice Chair – OCTA Legislative and Communications Committee, Regional Transportation Committee,
Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency,
Transportation Corridor Agency (TCA), TCA Joint Capital Improvements and Projects Committee,
San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) Community Engagement Panel,
Co-Chair – Spent Fuel Solutions Coalition,
Orange County Public Libraries Advisory Board, Coastal Greenbelt Authority,
Newport Bay and South Orange County Watershed Executive Committees,
Ocean Institute, Orange County Community Corrections
Partnership (OCCCP), Santa Ana River Flood Control Protection Agency,
