California Cracks Down on Dangerous Products Dressed Up as Candy: About $10 Million in Kratom Products Held, $1.47 Billion in Illicit Cannabis Seized
In Sacramento, the capital city in Sacramento County, California, the Governor's Office said on October 31 that, this Halloween, Governor Gavin Newsom is reminding bad actors that a dangerous or illegal product does not become safe — or legal — just because it is dressed up as candy, a colorful beverage or a wellness supplement. Through coordinated enforcement, stronger consumer protections and legal action, the state is cracking down on illicit products that can be deceptively packaged and marketed to look harmless, including illegal cannabis products, intoxicating hemp products and dangerous kratom-derived substances.
"Bad actors can dress up an illegal product however they want, but a clever label or candy-colored package doesn't make it legal. We're cracking down on dangerous products that put our kids and communities at risk. This Halloween, if you're breaking the law, there is no hiding behind a costume," Governor Newsom said.
On intoxicating hemp, California's emergency regulations prohibit industrial hemp food, beverages and dietary products intended for human consumption from containing detectable THC or other intoxicating cannabinoids per serving; they also prohibit sales to people under 21 and limit packages to five servings. Since enforcement began, the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) has conducted 24,590 visits, removed 7,403 products from shelves and reported a 99.36% compliance rate among licensees. In 2025 the Governor signed Assembly Bill 8, which applies to intoxicating hemp the same rules that apply to cannabis.
On kratom, kratom-derived substances such as 7-OH products and synthetic compounds such as MGM-15 have been associated with addiction, overdose and death. To date, the California Department of Public Health has embargoed or destroyed approximately $10 million worth of kratom and 7-OH products, targeting products and raw materials at retail locations and manufacturing facilities while pursuing legal action against manufacturers. ABC has conducted 9,209 visits, removed 8,230 products and reported a 97.97% compliance rate among the locations it has visited.
"Kratom-derived substances like 7-OH and synthetic compounds like MGM-15 have been associated with addiction, overdose, and death, and consumers should not assume these products are safe alternatives to opioids or other drugs," said Dr. Erica Pan, director of the California Department of Public Health and state public health officer. "We urge Californians to protect yourself and your loved ones by avoiding using 7-OH and kratom-related products."
On illicit cannabis, since the Governor established California's Unified Cannabis Enforcement Task Force in 2022, enforcement has resulted in more than $1.47 billion in estimated illicit cannabis seized or destroyed, 896,514 pounds of illicit cannabis seized or destroyed, and 1,441,826 cannabis plants eradicated. Governor Newsom also recently signed AB 2249 to clarify and strengthen restrictions on cannabis packaging, labeling, advertising and marketing that may appeal to children, including cartoon imagery and packaging that mimics products primarily marketed to kids.
The Governor's Office said state agencies working on the effort include the Department of Cannabis Control, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Department of Public Health, the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, the Department of Tax and Fee Administration and the Governor's Office of Emergency Services, working with local and federal partners. Californians are reminded not to judge a product by its costume: buy cannabis only from licensed retailers and keep intoxicating products away from children.
Source: GSM, America
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：加州一家持牌大麻零售店的店内货架。Sarah Stierch摄，CC BY 4.0，经Wikimedia Commons。 / Inside a licensed cannabis retail store in California. Photo by Sarah Stierch, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
