An Ocala tea business that has served as an alcohol-free gathering space for seven years says it has been stonewalled by the city’s mayor in its request to have a conversation about kratom at local businesses, saying it sells natural kratom and not the banned synthetic extract that has caused mass confusion.
Ocala Kava Bar Muddy Lotus Tea issued an open letter to Ocala Mayor Ben Marciano on Wednesday in light of a story on Ocala-News.com that reported the mayor’s desire to see kratom removed from local businesses. According to state corporate records, Muddy Lotus Tea is owned by The Alchemist Brews, a company that is registered to Kibbie Fulton and Sonya Ritchie.
In the open letter, the business says Marciano’s public comments during the most recent Ocala City Council meeting caused “real concern within the community, especially for residents who rely on alcohol-free gathering spaces.”…