Bryan Stalder
Contributor

Kansas City leaders are moving to crack down on a range of unregulated psychoactive products found in gas stations, convenience stores, vape shops, and smoke shops throughout the city. On Thursday, Dec. 4, Mayor Quinton Lucas introduced Ordinance 251028, which would prohibit the sale of substances commonly marketed as “gas station drugs,” including kratom, Delta-8 and Delta-9 THC edibles, nitrous oxide cartridges, and a growing list of synthetic intoxicants.

City officials say the proposal comes after years of mounting concerns about health risks, overdoses, and public safety issues tied to businesses that sell these products. Many of the substances are marketed as “natural” or “legal alternatives” to marijuana or pain relievers, but they remain unregulated and unapproved by the FDA.

“Unregulated gas station drugs are sold with virtually no oversight,” Mayor Lucas said, announcing the measure. “These products are marketed as legal alternatives but can be just as dangerous as controlled substances. We cannot allow items that contribute to addiction, overdoses, and neighborhood instability—especially those affecting our children—to remain on our shelves.”

Local community leaders say those concerns echo what they see on the ground. Laura Birdsong, Resource Team Manager for the Independence Avenue Community Improvement District, said products like kratom or synthetic cannabinoids have been contributing to dependency and health crises in the neighborhoods her team serves. “There is no benefit in this world run rampant with an opioid crisis to offer masked products that have the same effect,” she said. “They create a dependency or leave people experiencing horrific withdrawals. I personally am happy to see the city taking measures to hinder exposure to substances that can cause harm, especially when it comes to protecting our youth.”

The Health Department recently examined a polysubstance overdose death in which kratom was detected, prompting renewed scrutiny of the herbal stimulant and sedative. Federal health agencies have long warned that kratom may be addictive and can produce opioid-like effects at higher doses. Delta-8 and Delta-9 THC products, often sold in colorful packaging or in edible form, also lack FDA approval and have been linked nationwide to adverse reactions ranging from severe anxiety to loss of consciousness. Studies and toxicology reports have raised questions about their purity, potency, and the chemicals used in their production, particularly for Delta-8 products synthesized from hemp-derived CBD.

Medical experts warn that the accessibility of these substances makes them particularly concerning. Many teens and young adults are able to purchase them over the counter, often unaware of the potential for unwanted or negative effects. Some health care providers have reported a rise in adolescent use and say emergency rooms are seeing more patients who have combined these products with alcohol or other substances. Doctors caution that even substances labeled as “plant-based” or “natural” can carry significant risks, especially when sold without testing or regulatory oversight.

City officials say the risks don’t end with personal health. According to the Public Safety Task Force, several Kansas City businesses that sell these intoxicants have also been the sites of repeated disorder, police calls, and nuisance activity. The task force has recommended in multiple cases that shops stop selling such products to help reduce crime and improve neighborhood safety.

Councilman Nathan Willett said concerns extend to products being marketed toward younger customers. He pointed to “7-OH,” a kratom metabolite, and similar derivatives being packaged in ways that appeal to teens. “KC is stepping up to do something about it,” he said.

Community safety teams along Independence Avenue say they’ve seen firsthand how these products can contribute to disorder. Bobbi Baker-Hughes, District Manager of the Independence Avenue Community Improvement District, said her organization routinely discusses the issue during its weekly security meetings. “The CID supports the efforts of state, county, and city officials to regulate these products,” she said. “We discuss the impacts that arise from the sale of these products as well as solutions for how to deal with the consequences of them at our weekly safety and security meetings. We invite the public to attend these meetings any time.”

Under the proposed ordinance, stores caught selling these products could face fines of $750 to $1,000 per day, along with potential suspension or revocation of their business licenses. The ordinance outlines several factors the city can use to determine a violation—such as products being kept hidden behind counters, being advertised with language suggesting psychoactive effects, or being linked to repeated “disorder” calls. The measure exempts FDA-approved medications and legitimate uses of nitrous oxide in medical, dental, food service, and industrial settings.

If passed, residents may notice some products disappearing from store shelves, as well as increased inspections at businesses known for selling hemp-based or synthetic intoxicants. City leaders say the goal is not only to protect public health but also to address chronic nuisance issues tied to certain retailers.

Stay tuned as more details in this story develop…