Crawford, 21, said he and a friend both slipped into comas after taking kratom they bought in Ocala on April 25, 2026. When asked in a follow-up email about the draft proposal mentioned at the City Council meeting, Holly didn’t acknowledge that a draft existed. “As we mentioned previously, the county is exploring various avenues available under state law regarding the sale of kratom products,” Holly wrote. Should kratom be banned in Ocala, one of the businesses affected would be Muddy Lotus Tea Kava Bar, which has kratom tea on its menu. Listen to Crawford speaking here: https://youtu.be/05WPjBVIiKAFor prior “Gazette” reporting on this topic, go to:Kratom conundrum | Ocala GazetteRevisiting kratom in Ocala | Ocala Gazette