"For more than a decade, kratom products have steadily increased in popularity in California, with the painkiller being sold at thousands of smoke shops and convenience stores across the state. But after a string of deaths were linked last year to kratom and a related opioid called 7-OH, California officials have now launched the biggest crackdown in state history. That could mean the days of kratom's widespread availability in California could be coming to an end."
"Gov. Gavin Newsom's administration declared kratom and 7-OH illegal last year and launched a new campaign last month to clear the products from retail shelves. On Jan. 16, the California Department of Public Health issued a news release warning retailers that it is illegal to sell the drugs and calling on the public to report "the unlawful sale of these products." The CDPH also sent a Jan. 9 letter directly to tobacco sellers, warning them that they could face penalties for selling the drugs."
Kratom products grew steadily more popular in California for over a decade, sold at thousands of smoke shops and convenience stores. A string of deaths last year linked to kratom and a related opioid called 7-OH prompted California officials to declare the substances illegal and begin a major state crackdown. Retailers received warnings and letters from the California Department of Public Health, and the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control is notifying 80,000 regulated businesses and preparing enforcement. Customers report products disappearing from shelves, and advocates warn abrupt removals could push dependent people toward illicit sources and increase safety risks.
Read at SFGATE
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