San Mateo County becomes first in Bay Area to ban sale of kratom amid overdose fears

by Alise Maripuu, Bay City News April 21, 2026April 21, 2026

FILE: Kratom capsules are displayed in Albany, N.Y., in a Sept. 27, 2017, file photo. San Mateo County supervisors approved a ban of the unregulated substance on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. Sold in various capsules and powders, kratom has gained popularity in the U.S. as an alternative treatment for pain, anxiety and drug dependence. (AP Photo/Mary Esch, File)

SAN MATEO COUNTY on Tuesday became the first county in the Bay Area to ban the sale of kratom, a substance that state health officials say has been found to cause harm and addiction.

“There are known health risks due to kratom and its alkaloid derivatives, including overdoses, deaths and other adverse effects,” said San Mateo County Public Health Officer Dr. Kismet Baldwin-Santana at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting. “Anything that we can do to be proactive and prevent any overdoses and deaths, it would be much appreciated.”

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Alise Maripuu, Bay City News

Alise is a general assignment reporter with a focus on covering government, elections, housing, crime, courts and entertainment in San Francisco and on the Peninsula. Alise is a Bay Area native from San Carlos. She studied history at University of California, Santa Cruz and first started journalism at Skyline College’s school newspaper in San Bruno. She has interned for Bay City News and for Eesti Rahvusringhääling, or Estonian Public Broadcasting. She has covered everything from the removal of former San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus to the divisive battle over the Great Highway on San Francisco’s west side. Please send her any tips.

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