TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Justin Clifton, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Isaac Bravo, Management Analyst
SUBJECT:
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Second Reading of Ordinance No. 629-26 Prohibiting the Sale and Distribution of Kratom
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ABSTRACT
Council Member DeForest received consensus from City Council to direct staff to present an ordinance banning the sale and distribution of synthetic Kratom and banning the sale and distribution of natural Kratom for anyone under 21 years of age. The City Council considered this on March 3, 2026, and approved the first reading of Ordinance 629-26.
RECOMMENDATION
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Conduct the second reading and adopt Ordinance No. 629-26 entitled: An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Murrieta, California, Amending the Murrieta Municipal Code by Adding New Chapter 9.40, Regulating the Sale and Distribution of Kratom.
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PRIOR ACTION/VOTE
On December 16, 2025, the Council Member DeForest received consensus from the City Council to direct staff to present an ordinance banning the sale and distribution of Kratom within the City limits.
On January 20, 2026, staff presented the City Council with a proposed ordinance to ban the sale and distribution of Kratom. During that meeting, Mayor Levell introduced a letter from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) addressing Kratom. It was not initially clear what implications the letter from CDPH had on the legality of the sale of Kratom and the proposed ordinance banning Kratom.
On February 3, 2026, staff presented additional information, making clear that the letter from CDPH concluded that Kratom was not approved as a food additive or supplement. Based on this clarification, staff withdrew its recommendation to refrain from adopting an ordinance banning Kratom as such a ban would be substantially different from the ban of its use as a food additive or supplement. After discussion, the City Council directed staff to continue researching t...
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