OCALA, FLORIDA KRATOM BAN: CONTACT DECISION-MAKERS NOW

The Ocala City Council is drafting an ordinance that would ban kratom sales citywide. The ordinance has not been formally introduced yet — and that is exactly why acting now matters more than ever. Reaching decision-makers before a vote is ever scheduled is far more effective than opposing it after the fact. If you live in or near Ocala, your voice carries the most weight right now.

Take Action Now

The City Council meets on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month. Contact Mayor Marciano first, then reach out to each City Council member individually.

Step 1 — Contact Mayor Ben Marciano:

📧 bmarciano@ocalafl.gov

Step 2 — Contact the City Council:

📧 Ire Bethea, Sr., Council President: ibethea@ocalafl.gov

📧 Jay Musleh, President Pro-Tem: jmusleh@ocalafl.gov

📧 Barry Mansfield, Councilmember: bmansfield@ocalafl.gov

📧 Kristen Dreyer, Councilmember: kdreyer@ocalafl.gov

📧 James Hilty, Sr., Councilmember: jhilty@ocalafl.gov

🔗 Take action: protectkratom.org/florida

What to Say

Keep your message respectful and factual. If you live in or near Ocala, say so — local residents carry the most weight. Use this as a guide:

"Please oppose a ban on natural kratom leaf. The products behind the incidents being cited are chemically manipulated 7-OH concentrates — not natural kratom leaf. Florida was the first state to emergency-schedule concentrated 7-OH, state inspectors have already pulled thousands of 7-OH packages from shelves, the DEA has moved to place concentrated 7-OH into Schedule I federally, and Florida law already limits kratom sales to adults 21 and over. Regulate dangerous synthetics — not natural leaf."

What Is Being Proposed and Why It Gets It Wrong

The Ocala City Council is drafting an ordinance that would ban the sale of natural kratom leaf citywide. The intent to address dangerous products is understandable — but the evidence points clearly at chemically manipulated synthetic 7-OH concentrates, not natural kratom leaf. Banning natural kratom leaf alongside dangerous synthetics ignores that distinction entirely.

Here is what is already in place at the state and federal level:

Florida was the first state in the country to emergency-schedule concentrated 7-OH products. State inspectors have already pulled thousands of 7-OH packages from store shelves across Florida. The DEA has moved to place concentrated 7-OH into Schedule I federally. And Florida law already restricts kratom sales to adults 21 and over under the Florida Kratom Consumer Protection Act.

The regulatory framework targeting dangerous synthetic 7-OH is already working at the state and federal level. A citywide ban on natural kratom leaf in Ocala is unnecessary, goes far beyond what the evidence supports, and would cut off access for the responsible adults in the community who rely on natural kratom as part of their daily wellness routine.

As research discussed on the Huberman Lab podcast makes clear, natural kratom leaf has a distinct profile that sets it apart from synthetic concentrates. That distinction was further reinforced by an FDA clinical trial — the first of its kind — which examined kratom's pharmacological profile and underscored why natural leaf should not be treated the same as dangerous synthetic 7-OH. For the latest on kratom legality across Florida and other states, visit our kratom legality map. Learn more about kratom legality and regulation nationwide.

The Bigger Picture

The most effective advocacy happens before a vote is scheduled — not after. The Ocala City Council is still in the drafting stage. That means every email sent to Mayor Marciano and every City Council member today is a direct signal that this community is paying attention and that a ban on natural kratom leaf is not supported by the people it would affect most.

If you live in or near Ocala, your message carries extra weight. Contact the Mayor and every Council member today. Share your personal story — what natural kratom has meant for your life. That is what decision-makers remember.

For the latest on kratom legality in Florida and other states, visit our kratom legality map.

Act now — before this ordinance ever reaches a vote.