From: Misty Brown
To: CityClerk
Subject: Council Public Comments
Date: Sunday, February 8, 2026 4:24:31 PM
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I Oppose Kratom Ordinance 11.B.
Here’s my why…
There is a critical scientific difference between whole-leaf kratom and the products being sold today as "7-hydroxymitragynine," or 7-OH.
Whole-leaf kratom is simply the dried leaf of Mitragyna speciosa. Its primary alkaloid is mitragynine. When someone consumes kratom, the human body naturally converts only a very small amount-typically well under one percent-into 7-OH through normal liver metabolism.
This process is slow and self-limiting.
By contrast, the 7-OH products now appearing on the market contain laboratory-isolated or chemically converted 7-hydroxymitragynine in amounts far beyond what the human body could ever produce from kratom leaf. At those levels, 7-OH behaves much more like a conventional opioid and carries much higher risk.
When these high-potency 7-OH products are lumped with natural kratom, it leads to misleading risk assessments and poor public policy. Regulating or restricting 7-OH does not require banning whole-leaf kratom-and that distinction matters, because kratom saved my life.
From 2008 to 2019, I lived trapped in FDA-approved pain pills, benzodiazepines, and muscle relaxers prescribed for my degenerative disc disease. Over 11 years, chronic pain management turned into full-blown addiction. What began as dependency slowly became a cycle of misuse, desperation, and shame.
In April of 2019, I was dismissed from pain management after failing a required pill count. I was short on my medication and couldn't find what I needed. Cut off from prescriptions, I turned to the streets, and in that desperation, I slipped into cocaine use while trying to find another doctor.
By June of 2019, I was in withdrawal and at rock bottom when I watched a documentary called A Leaf of Faith. That moment changed everything. The next day, I walked into a shop, showed my ID, and bought whole-leaf kratom..not synthetic 7-OH.
Kratom quieted the relentless cravings. The voice that kept saying, "one more pill, one more snort, one more escape," finally went silent. For the first time in over a decade, I felt stable.
Kratom gave me the breathing room to heal and allowed me to rebuild my life.
I have not returned to pain management in over six and a half years. Today, I am a thriving mother, a first-time grandmother, and a contributing member of society. I am no longer a burden to my children. I am an example of recovery.
I will always be grateful that I had access to safe, lab-tested, whole-leaf kratom. And that is why I speak out to protect others who are still fighting for their lives.
Misty Brown
Kratom Consumer, Advocate & Activist est. 2019
From: Denise Geltman
To: CityClerk
Subject: Ordinance 2026-02 Feb 9, 2026 PLEASE DO NOT BAN NATURO LEAF KRATOM Date: Sunday, February 8, 2026 10:08:34 PM
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Dear City Council,
My name is Denise Geltman and I have been taking NATURAL LEAF KRATOM for 10 years.
I live with chronic severe nerve pain and spasms. It is absolute torture.
NATURAL LEAF KRATOM is my most important tool in my chronic pain toolbox. It makes my pain bearable.
Please do not ban NATURAL LEAF KRATOM.
It helps so many people.
Thank you for your kind consideration of my request.
Sincerely,
Denise Geltman
818-486-4904
[email protected]
From: Stephen McIntosh
To: CityClerk
Subject: Council Public Comment, RE: OPPOSE Item 11.B, Ordinance No. 2026-02 / Kratom Date: Monday, February 9, 2026 2:04:55 AM
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City Councilors,
First, allow me to thank you for your public service. I know that no matter the issue, any decision will upset someone.
Second,
My name is Stephen McIntosh. I would like to voice my OPPOSITION to Item
11.B, Ordinance No. 2026-02 that would prohibit kratom for sale within the city.
I am medically retired and permanently disabled with advanced heart failure and chronic pain in my chest and lower back. I use botanical kratom as tea in moderate doses to manage my pain. This allows me to do basic housework and the PT cardiology has recommended, and has significantly reduced hospitalizations due to uncontrollable pain and the cardiac impacts of it. If my health permits, I hope to speak on this matter at the hearing on Feb 10th.
I am deeply concerned about Item 11.B, Ordinance No. 2026-02 because I use botanical kratom to manage my pain. I do not get adequate pain control medication from my HMO doctor. Like many Californians, I am dependent upon the insurance provided though my wife's employer as we make too much money for Medi-Cal or subsidized insurance and I am not old enough for Medicare. My insurance will not cover providers outside of my HMO (providers employed by the HMO), so have no realistic option for outside providers. My hospitalizations for chest pain of uncertain causes has been reduced from 14-30 days per year to 0-3 days per year for every year that I have used it. Each ER/Hospitalization costs our household a minimum of $100 and costs the health plan a minimum of $8000, which raises the healthcare costs for all consumers and ties up critically scarce medical resources.
While safe for most consumers, I cannot safely take most OTC pain medications (like NSAIDs) per cardiology or they are not effective for my pain (like Tylenol). I have tried medical cannabis and found that for my condition that it was not functional, effective, and was expensive.
Due to having a pacemaker I cannot use TENS or other
electro-stimulation. I have used these products since 2018 and with routine monitoring there has never been any evidence in labs, imaging studies, or my defibrillator firing that there has been any ill effect on my liver, kidney, or cardiovascular health.
From: David Woolf
To: CityClerk
Subject: COUNCIL PUBLIC COMMENT
Date: Monday, February 9, 2026 6:20:36 AM
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Dear Council Members,
I am writing to ask you not to ban the sale of Plain Leaf Kratom, which has a long history in our country of safe use for helping with chronic pain. I do agree with banning the dangerous metabolite 7-OH (7-hydroxymitragynine), also slated to be banned at the federal level. In fact, in a recent Oval Office press conference, FDA Commissioner Makary just mentioned that 7-OH was the problem, not plain leaf Kratom.
Thank you for allowing me to add my voice to this very important issue. I bring with me 12 years of positive lived experience with plain leaf Kratom. I was the only Kratom advocate in the country to be welcomed to the HHS press briefing stage last July by FDA Commissioner Makary. Soon I will be attending the Kratom Science Symposium at the University of Florida, where any concerns could be brought to leading scientists in person.
For over 20 years, I lived with chronic pain from fibromyalgia, arthritis, sciatica, and other conditions. Before consuming kratom, I was often bedridden and required assistance, which affected my ability to participate fully in family life.
Eleven years ago, I began consuming plain-leaf kratom, and it gave me back my mobility and ability to fully engage with my family. In 2022, when my daughter and son-in-law’s childcare closed unexpectedly, I provided full-time care for my granddaughter, saving them approximately $50,000. This past summer, with major home repairs and high childcare costs, I again cared for my 3½-year-old granddaughter for four months, chasing her all over town — weekly trips to the Zoo, the library, and every nearby splash pad.
I participate in local and state-level meetings on kratom regulation and spoke one-on-one with roughly 200 state legislators at the NCSL conference. I will be attending a scientific symposium again this year, where I will share my personal experience alongside researchers and regulators. I was also asked to speak at a joint HHS/FDA press briefing about the benefits of kratom and to distinguish it from the dangerous 7OH.
Outside of advocacy, I sing in a chorus, performing for nursing homes and assisted living facilities as a form of community service, helping bring joy and connection to others.
My personal experience demonstrates the profound impact kratom has on function, family life, and community engagement, and underscores the importance of patient perspectives in informing science and policy.
We support protecting plain leaf Kratom, with common sense, science-led regulations such as an age gate, and truthful packaging, while prohibiting products containing over 2% of 7-OH.
Please do not ban plain leaf Kratom for those who take it responsibly. My number is 269 873-9592. More information and the science is found on my LinkedIn Profile:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/melody-woolf-366a7b146?
utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app Best regards,
Melody Woolf
From: Venus Lynn
To: CityClerk
Subject: Support for Responsible Practices Regarding Ordinance 2026‑02 Date: Monday, February 9, 2026 8:12:27 AM
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Dear Los Alamitos City Council,
My name is Venus Usher, and I am writing to provide my perspective on Ordinance 2026‑02 concerning the sale, distribution, and advertising of kratom products.
As someone who has relied on plain leaf kratom for over 9 years to manage chronic pain and illnesses caused by FDA-approved medications, I understand firsthand the difference that safe and responsible access can make in a person’s life. Plain leaf kratom allowed me to regain my life, reconnect with my family, and participate in daily activities safely, without relying on pharmaceuticals that caused serious side effects, including damage to my teeth. It was a horrible 17 years.
I encourage the City to consider measures that support responsible adult use, accurate labeling, and safe practices, whether through local guidance or alignment with state standards like the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA). Clear distinctions between plain leaf kratom and synthetic products, careful advertising, and safe distribution practices can protect the community while allowing adults who rely on these products to continue doing so safely.
Thank you for your consideration. I hope the City continues to prioritize public safety while supporting responsible practices and informed consumer choice.
Sincerely,
Venus Usher
My Story: https://share.google/FmmBi7LTUucD1NZQD
#JusticeforMarshallPrice
https://www.newsweek.com/how-brutal-jail-death-exposes-arkansas-punishing-justicesystem-1841257 From: Drea Powers
To: CityClerk
Subject: Council Public Comment
Date: Monday, February 9, 2026 11:34:42 AM
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Hello,
My name is Drea Powers. I've used kratom for over a decade. Kratom has been a positive and life-changing part of my wellness journey. It’s a natural plant from the coffee family that helps me manage Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome, Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Severe Major Depression and Panic Disorder. I receive pain relief for the chronic pain some of these cause. Kratom allows me to avoid the harsh side effects that I've experienced from prescription drugs.
I learned about kratom from my brother after it got him off of heroin. It has saved my sisters life, also. They both survived fentanyl poisonings in 2016. Kratom is the reason they reached sobriety and remain sober. It prevented me from getting addicted to pills. Addiction runs in my family- it could've been me.
Research from Johns Hopkins University and the University of Florida shows that kratom’s natural compounds work differently from opioids — they can relieve pain and improve mood without the dangerous risk of respiratory failure. Studies in Drug and Alcohol Dependence also found that kratom has a low potential for abuse and can even help people reduce dependence on harmful substances.
Data from the CDC and the National Institute on Drug Abuse confirm that deaths linked solely to kratom are extremely rare — most cases involve other drugs or contaminants.
Another concern of mine is the fact that alcohol has remained easily accessible while being responsible for tens of millions of deaths globally. These deaths have been attributable to alcohol since 2010 (very likely more than 30 million) based on the annual scales involved.
Alcohol withdrawal is deadly whereas discontinuing kratom use is not. Kratom, namely plain leaf kratom is not deadly.
That’s why I believe regulation, not prohibition, is the responsible way. Requiring testing and labeling so products are safe and adults can make informed choices.
For me, and for millions of others, kratom has meant a better, healthier quality of life. Please listen to the science, and to the people who use it responsibly every day.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Drea
From: ED ARTHUR
To: CityClerk
Subject: Council Public Comment – Ordinance No. 2026-02 (Kratom Products) Date: Monday, February 9, 2026 2:52:02 PM
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Dear Mayor and Members of the Los Alamitos City Council, My name is Ed Arthur. I am 78 years old and a California resident. I am writing to provide public comment regarding Ordinance No. 2026-02, proposing to add Chapter 9.28 to Title 9 of the Los Alamitos Municipal Code relating to the sale and distribution of kratom products.
I have taken a small, consistent amount of kratom powdered leaf daily since at least 2015. I did not retire until age 75, after many years of daily physical labor refinishing front doors. I have spinal stenosis and torn rotator cuffs in both shoulders, yet I remain active, functional, and independent without the use of prescription pain medication.
I credit kratom leaf with helping me maintain a strong and vigorous quality of life. I receive regular medical checkups, including testing of all major organs, and I am in excellent health for my age.
I respectfully urge the Council not to conflate natural kratom leaf with highly concentrated synthetic or semi-synthetic kratom derivatives, such as products containing elevated levels of 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH). I strongly oppose those products and believe they raise legitimate safety concerns. However, they are fundamentally different from the traditional powdered leaf used responsibly by many adults.
An outright ban on kratom products would negatively impact individuals like myself and may unintentionally drive people toward opioid pain medications—an outcome I believe none of us want. I respectfully encourage the City Council to consider thoughtful regulation rather than prohibition.
Thank you for taking the time to consider my personal experience and perspective as you deliberate on this ordinance.
Respectfully,
Ed Arthur
Irvine, California
From: Venus Lynn
To: CityClerk
Subject: Request to Speak at City Council Meeting Regarding Ordinance 2026-02 Date: Monday, February 9, 2026 4:45:48 PM
Dear City Clerk,
My name is Venus Usher. I am writing to ask whether public comment is being accepted for the City Council meeting regarding Ordinance 2026-02, and if so, whether I am able to speak either in person or remotely.
I am not a California resident, but this issue directly affects me. I rely on plain leaf kratom tea to manage chronic pain and serious illnesses caused by FDA-approved medications. Before finding it, I spent many years largely bedridden and unable to participate in daily life. Responsible access to plain leaf kratom allowed me to function again and reengage with my family and community.
I would appreciate any guidance on how to provide public comment, including time limits, sign-up requirements, or whether written comments are preferred.
Thank you for your time and assistance.
Sincerely,
Venus Usher
Delaware