KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Mayor Quinton Lucas today introduced an ordinance prohibiting the sale of unregulated psychoactive substances and dangerous inhalants in Kansas City often referred to as 'Gas Station Drugs.' The proposal targets products like kratom, Delta-8 and Delta-9 THC edibles, nitrous oxide, and synthetic cannabinoids that are currently sold with little oversight at convenience stores, vape shops, and smoke shops.

"Unregulated gas station drugs are substances that are sold with virtually no oversight or accountability," said Mayor Lucas. "The products are marketed as legal alternatives but often just as dangerous as controlled substances and have no place on our shelves when they contribute to addiction, overdoses, and neighborhood instability, particularly impacting our children. The ordinance represents a science-based, community-informed approach to protecting public health while ensuring our neighborhoods remain safe."

The Kansas City Health Department recently examined a polysubstance overdose death in which kratom was detected. The FDA has not approved kratom for any medical use, and federal health agencies warn against it. Delta-8 and Delta-9 THC products have also not been evaluated or approved by the FDA for safe use.

"The Kansas City Health Department's data shows clear connections between these products and adverse health outcomes, including overdoses," said Public Safety Director Lace Cline. "When you combine the health risks with the documented public safety issues, we've observed at businesses selling these substances, the need for regulation becomes undeniable. This ordinance would give us the tools we need to address these problems comprehensively."

The City's Public Safety Task Force has identified businesses selling these substances that are also associated with repeated disorder incidents and nuisance activity. The Task Force has routinely recommended these establishments stop selling such products to improve public safety.

"7-OH, along with other unregulated drugs, is being marketed to youth and poses serious long-term health risks," said Councilman Nathan Willett. "KC is stepping up to do something about it."

Under the proposed ordinance, violations would result in fines of $750 to $1,000 per day. Business owners could also face suspension or revocation of their business licenses.

The ordinance includes specific factors for determining violations, including age restrictions on products that wouldn't normally require them, keeping products hidden or behind counters, marketing that suggests psychoactive effects, and documented public safety problems at the business.

The measure would not apply to FDA-approved drugs dispensed according to state and federal law. Legitimate uses of nitrous oxide in medical, dental, food service, and industrial settings would be exempted.

Ordinance 251028 is scheduled to be heard in the City Council Finance, Governance, and Public Safety Committee on Tuesday, December 9 at 10:30 a.m. in the City Council Chambers.