San Mateo County Becomes First Bay Area Jurisdiction to Ban Kratom Sales

Why it matters

San Mateo County's ordinance banning kratom and 7-OH products marks the first Bay Area county-level action and establishes local enforcement mechanisms—a model other jurisdictions may follow as state-level policy lags.

The big picture

San Mateo County supervisors unanimously approved an ordinance banning kratom sales in unincorporated areas effective immediately, citing rising poison center reports and overdose deaths. The ban covers both natural kratom and 7-OH derivatives. In California, kratom was implicated in 242 deaths from 2020-2022, with 27 blamed solely on kratom. U.S. poison centers received a record-high 3,434 kratom exposure reports in 2025—a 1,200% increase from 258 reports in 2015. Violations carry misdemeanor penalties including up to $1,000 fines and potential loss of retail licenses.

Key findings

• San Mateo County bans all kratom and 7-OH sales
• First Bay Area county-level kratom ban
• Products often marketed to youth with candy flavors and attractive packaging
• FDA classified 7-OH as high-misuse potential substance in July 2025
• California had 242 kratom-implicated deaths 2020-2022, 27 attributed to kratom alone
• Misdemeanor penalties: up to $1,000 fine and six months jail

What they say

Supervisor Ray Mueller: 'People are going into stores and really finding an opioid that is readily present, available and being marketed, and in many cases being marketed to youth.' Health Officer Dr. Kismet Baldwin-Santana: 'There are known health risks due to kratom and its alkaloid derivatives, including overdoses, deaths and other adverse effects.'

Bottom line

**San Mateo County's unanimous ban establishes the first Bay Area enforcement model against kratom, recognizing marketing tactics targeting youth and the mismatch between casual supplement presentation and serious opioid-like pharmacology.**