ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI KRATOM BAN: OPPOSE BILL 185-26 BEFORE MONDAY'S FINAL VOTE

The St. Joseph City Council will hold a final vote on Bill 185-26 this Monday, August 3 at 5:30 PM CT at City Hall. This ordinance would not only prohibit the distribution of natural kratom leaf — it would also make possession unlawful. Responsible adults could become offenders overnight simply for possessing a botanical product they purchased legally.

Bill 185-26 appears as Item 10 on Monday's agenda under Bills for Passage. Attending in person and speaking during public comment is the most powerful action you can take. If you cannot attend, call and email the Mayor and every Council member before Monday.

Meeting Details

📅 Monday, August 3, 2026

⏰ 5:30 PM CT

📍 Council Chamber, City Hall, 1100 Frederick Avenue, St. Joseph, MO 64501

Bill 185-26 is Item 10 on the agenda under Bills for Passage.

Take Action Now

Attend in person and speak during public comment.

Public comment takes place at the end of the agenda. When you arrive, sign up to speak. Share your personal story — what natural kratom has meant for your life. That is what Council members remember most.

If you cannot attend, call and email before Monday:

📞📧 Mayor Larry Miller: (816) 341-4504 | lmiller@stjosephmo.gov

📞 Madison Davis, District I: 816-244-9250

📞 Jason Eslinger, District II: 816-390-2860

📞 Andrew Trout, District III: 816-261-2934

📞 Russell Moore, District IV: 816-341-4506

📞 Collin Clibon, At-Large: 816-341-4502

📞 Marty Novak, At-Large: 816-244-3906

📞 Randy Schultz, At-Large: 816-244-3913

📞 Gary Wilkinson, Deputy Mayor At-Large: 816-244-4628

🔗 Take action: protectkratom.org

What to Say

Share your personal story — how natural kratom has positively impacted your life. Use this as a guide:

"Please oppose Bill 185-26. This ordinance would criminalize the possession of natural kratom leaf — punishing responsible adults for using a botanical product they purchased legally. Natural kratom leaf and dangerous synthetic 7-OH are not the same thing. Target dangerous synthetics, not natural leaf. Support commonsense regulation — age restrictions, testing, and labeling — not possession bans that criminalize responsible consumers."

What Bill 185-26 Would Do

Bill 185-26 amends Division 4 "Regulated Substances" of the St. Joseph Code of Ordinances to make the distribution and possession of Mitragyna speciosa (kratom) unlawful. It also enacts new sections to make the distribution and possession of 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) and tianeptine unlawful.

That last point is important. The fact that the ordinance addresses 7-OH and tianeptine separately — dangerous synthetic concentrates that federal regulators have specifically targeted — makes the inclusion of natural kratom leaf in the same bill even more unjustified. Natural kratom leaf does not belong in the same category as synthetic 7-OH and tianeptine. Lumping them together ignores the science and punishes responsible consumers for a problem they did not create.

Bill 185-26 goes further than a typical sales ban. It would prohibit the distribution of natural kratom leaf in St. Joseph and make possession unlawful. Responsible adults who currently use natural kratom legally could become offenders overnight simply for having a product they purchased at a licensed retailer.

The DEA has moved to place concentrated synthetic 7-OH into Schedule I federally. The FDA has specifically recommended that synthetic 7-OH be classified as a controlled substance — not natural kratom leaf. Kratom advocates have taken this message directly to Washington as well. In a recent Congressional briefing, advocates urged lawmakers to support natural kratom leaf products while warning of the distinct risks posed by synthetic concentrates — reinforcing the same distinction that federal regulators have already drawn. Read more: Kratom Advocates Brief U.S. Congress in Support of Natural Leaf Products, Warn of the Risks Posed by Synthetics.

Why a Possession Ban Is Especially Extreme

Most local kratom ordinances focus on sales restrictions. Bill 185-26 goes significantly further by criminalizing possession. That means a St. Joseph resident who purchased natural kratom legally — at a licensed retailer, in full compliance with Missouri law — could face legal consequences simply for having it in their home after this ordinance takes effect.

That is not consumer protection. That is criminalization of responsible adults for using a botanical product they did nothing wrong to obtain. The distinction between natural kratom leaf and dangerous synthetic 7-OH concentrates is well documented and federally recognized. 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.

The Kratom Consumer Protection Act framework has been adopted in 18 states. That framework — age restrictions, mandatory third-party testing, proper labeling — is the model that protects consumers without criminalizing them. For the latest on kratom legality in Missouri and other states, visit our kratom legality map. Learn more about kratom legality and regulation nationwide.

The Bigger Picture

A possession ban is among the most extreme forms of local kratom prohibition. It does not just restrict where kratom can be sold — it makes responsible adults into offenders for something they are doing legally today. The St. Joseph City Council needs to hear from the people this vote would affect most before Monday's final vote.

If you can be in St. Joseph on Monday, be there. Public comment is at the end of the agenda — sign up to speak when you arrive and share your story. If you cannot attend, call and email every Council member and the Mayor before Monday at 5:30 PM CT.

The vote is this Monday. Every voice heard before then matters.