Public health: kratom.

Assembly Member Bains proposes new regulations for kratom products in California through legislation that would establish age restrictions, packaging requirements, and content limits under the Sherman Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Law. The measure would prohibit sales to individuals under 21 years old and require child-resistant packaging for all kratom products and items containing 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH).

The bill defines specific packaging and labeling restrictions to prevent appeal to children, prohibiting the use of cartoons, fictional characters, or designs that mimic candy and snack foods marketed to youth. Online retailers would need to implement age verification systems, while all vendors would need to ensure kratom products maintain 7-hydroxymitragynine levels at or below 2 percent of total alkaloids. The legislation also establishes technical definitions for kratom leaf, kratom extract, and total alkaloid content.

Under the State Department of Public Health's oversight, these provisions would expand the scope of existing food and drug safety laws to include kratom-specific regulations. The measure classifies violations as criminal offenses, though it specifies that local agencies would not require state reimbursement for enforcement costs. This framework mirrors regulatory approaches used for other age-restricted products while creating new standards particular to kratom's composition and packaging.