Murrieta, Temecula Are Reinforcing Bans On Kratom, 7-OH

SOUTHWEST RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control warned this month that it is enforcing the statewide prohibition on illegal kratom products, and Murrieta and Temecula are making it known that the substance is also banned in their cities.

On Tuesday, the city of Temecula is expected to formally adopt an ordinance that prohibits the sale, distribution, or possession of kratom products (also known as 7-hydroxymitragynine or 7-OH) within the city.

Temecula is not alone. On Jan. 20, Murrieta City Council voted 3-2 to send a letter to smoke shops across that city reminding them that the sale, distribution and purchase of kratom is prohibited statewide per the California Department of Public Health.

In a Jan. 9, 2026, letter to the state's tobacco retailers, CDPH warned that the retail and online sale of kratom and 7-OH products in any form is unlawful per California Health and Safety Code (HSC) 110555. According to CDPH, kratom products "are not approved and may cause harmful effects."

Products made from kratom plants (which are native to Southeast Asia) or the derivative 7-OH, have appeared for sale in California, often marketed as dietary supplements, drinks, pills or gummies. Kratom is often used to self-treat medical conditions like pain, coughing, diarrhea, anxiety and depression, opioid use disorder, and opioid withdrawal.

But kratom-derived products and 7-OH are illegal to manufacture or sell for consumption, and have been associated with addiction, serious harm, overdose and death, according to CDPH.

Serious adverse events linked to kratom include liver toxicity, seizures, and substance use disorder. In rare cases, death can occur, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The FDA estimates that 1.7 million Americans aged 12 and older used kratom in 2021, despite the fact that there are no prescription or over-the-counter kratom or 7-OH products approved for sale in this country.

The federal government says it has taken recent steps to address dangers associated with kratom products, including FDA warnings to producers, health care professionals, and public safety notices.

Still, the FDA acknowledges it doesn't have much research on kratom.

"FDA recognizes that there is much that is not known scientifically about kratom," according to the federal agency. "Although there are published animal studies with kratom extracts, there are few published reports from well-designed scientific studies where kratom was administered to humans. Additional investigation by researchers, including those in the academic community, drug companies, and government agencies, into the many safety issues and potential therapeutic uses of kratom would provide important public health information."

Local jurisdictions — like Murrieta and Temecula — are ensuring alignment with state and federal laws regarding kratom and 7-OH. In December, the Moreno Valley City Council also moved to ban kratom products, following a similar Riverside County ban.