The sale of products made from kratom leaves, commonly found in fast food restaurants and gas stations, is prohibited in Lake Zurich to anyone under the age of 21 and will be completely banned starting January 1.
Bloomberg/Dimas Ardian
Lake Zurich has joined several other municipalities in banning the sale of unregulated delta-8 and kratom products, which are commonly found in fast-food restaurants, gas stations and smoke/vape shops.
Village officials say the unregulated products are sold in these establishments, which also sell alcohol and traditional tobacco products. Imposing a mandatory tobacco retail license essentially bans the sale of the unregulated products.
The sale of Delta-8 and Kratom products to anyone under 21 is now prohibited, and businesses are prohibited from placing any further orders for these products. A full ban will take effect on January 1.
The approved ordinance also prohibits the sale of tobacco and/or vape products without a village tobacconist’s license, which costs $200 per year.
The measure was pushed by trustee Marc Spacone, a middle school principal, who said state lawmakers “dropped the ball” by considering – but not passing – a bill to regulate the products.
“I saw this as an opportunity to make a statement on the ground about these products,” Spacone said. The products are dangerous, he said, and the intention is to limit children’s access to them.
Letters were sent to all tobacco retailers regarding the proposed ordinance and a group representing the kratom industry contacted the village. However, no one objected to the ordinance at Monday’s meeting.
Rob Karr, president and CEO of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, said in a statement that the products pose a danger to children. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has reported serious side effects in users of the products.
“Retail supports a clear regulatory structure that ensures customers know what they are consuming and keeps these products out of the hands of children,” he said.
Delta-8 is a THC-based product with a psychoactive compound found in the cannabis sativa plant. The product has not been evaluated or approved by the FDA for use “in any context” and should be kept away from children and pets, according to the agency.
It can be made with unsafe household chemicals in uncontrolled, unsanitary environments and has been known to cause hallucinations, vomiting, tremors, anxiety, confusion and unconsciousness. According to the village, there is no age restriction for purchase.
Kratom is a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia. According to the FDA, it is commonly used to self-medicate for pain, coughs, diarrhea, anxiety and depression, and other ailments. According to the agency, there are no drugs containing kratom or its two main chemical components that are legally sold in the United States.
According to the community, the products are not regulated by the FDA or other agencies, and there are concerns that retailers are selling intoxicating products without government oversight or safety checks.
Each year, poison control centers across the country receive thousands of exposures related to Delta-8 and kratom products, including some in people under 18, Spacone said.
Last November, Antioch became the first municipality in Lake County to ban the sale of these products.
Antioch Police Chief Geoffrey Guttschow said the department continues to monitor the situation and may update the ordinance if necessary.
The municipality ensures compliance with the regulations through strict controls, said Guttschow. Violations result in heavy fines and the withdrawal of the license to sell alcohol and tobacco products.
