The Riverside County Board of Supervisors has tentatively approved an ordinance intended to curb the sale of synthetic pain-relieving products that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration may add to the nationwide list of controlled substances.

The Riverside County Executive Office, following consultations with the District Attorney’s Office, Sheriff’s Department and other agencies, submitted a formal request for the board to consider implementing a set of regulations aimed at deterring sales and marketing of kratom derivatives, mainly to minors.

“I had never heard of kratom before this came to us earlier this year,” county Chief Executive Officer Jeff Van Wagenen told the board ahead of its unanimous vote Tuesday, Oct. 21. “Kratom is becoming more widely used. Is there an opportunity t

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