The Murphysboro City Council voted unanimously to ban the sale and possession of Kratom in city limits.
Kratom is a supplement that is marketed as an energy booster and often seen for sale in gas stations and convenience stores. Users who consume low doses say it is a stimulant. In higher doses, users claim it is a sedative which alleviates pain and leads to calm. It is derived from the from the leaves of an evergreen tree called Mitragyna speciosa.
Kratom is not FDA approved and there is not any consistent labeling. Users do not know how much active ingredient is present. It presents some serious potential side effects including liver damage, high blood pressure and hallucinations. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration characterizes it as a drug.
The city council has been discussing the use of Kratom over the past several months. In a report, Mayor Will Stephens said, “It’s basically a synthetic opiate, and from what I understand, there’s really no great reason to take it, out of someone just wanting to get high, and it’s extremely addictive, and that’s a problem.”
The full city council agreed voting 9-0 in favor of the ban.
“Our city attorney is drafting a letter which we are going to be delivering to the various outlets that we know that sell Kratom in Murphysboro, and we’re going to put an effective date for all of that to be removed from the shelves of these various stores,” Stephens said.