Fountain Valley, California, has joined other municipalities in Orange County in banning the sale, distribution, and possession of kratom and products containing more than 2% of 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH).
The Fountain Valley City Council voted 4-1 this week to enact the ordinance, which also prohibits the sale of kratom to individuals under the age of 21. Kratom, a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia, has been associated with serious adverse events, including toxicity, seizures, and substance use disorder, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA has warned consumers against using kratom due to the potential for severe health risks, with rare instances of death linked to its use confirmed by medical examiners or toxicology reports.
This action follows similar ordinances passed in Newport Beach and Dana Point. In October 2025, the California Department of Public Health issued a statewide directive banning the sale and manufacture of products containing kratom and 7-OH.
The highly addictive substance has been linked to several high-profile deaths. In one instance, authorities found nearly half a pound of kratom in the vehicle of the late NBA player Brandon Clarke, who died six weeks later. More recently, in early January, the daughter of former Los Angeles mayoral candidate Austin Beutner died from a combination of substances that included compounds found in kratom.
The ordinance is scheduled for a second reading at a future council meeting and will take effect 30 days after its adoption. The ban targets kratom and concentrated 7-OH products, which are considered unapproved and risky by health authorities, despite the plant's traditional use for pain relief and mood enhancement with only trace amounts of 7-OH.
