LIQUOR COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Receive the presentation on Kratom/Feel Free and evaluate whether stricter local regulation is needed
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DEPARTMENT: Police Department
SUBMITTED BY: Detective Martin Creighton
On September 3, 2019, the City Council adopted an ordinance restricting youth access to kratom. The measure bans the local retail sale of kratom to anyone under twenty-one and prohibits possession by individuals under eighteen, aligning local rules with the Illinois Kratom Control Act.
Kratom is derived from the leaves of a tropical evergreen tree native to Southeast Asia.
The leaves can be brewed as tea, crushed into powder, smoked, snorted, or taken in capsules or tablets. People have used kratom as a mood enhancer, energy booster, and pain reliever, and some advocates claim it may help with opioid withdrawal. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns against its use due to risks such as liver toxicity, seizures, and substance use disorder.
Several municipalities have responded to rising kratom use by adopting tighter controls. Rockford prohibits the sale of synthetic 7-OH kratom products, while Winnetka and Bloomington have implemented full retail sale bans. The City is now revisiting this issue to evaluate whether stricter local regulations may be warranted.
Presentations by the following:
Linden Oaks Behavioral Health - Alexandra Pochron
360 Youth Services - Matt Cassidy and Natasha Grover