Elk Grove Village bans sale of kratom, citing health risks

Among the first municipalities in Illinois to prohibit stores from selling THC products, Elk Grove Village has now added kratom to its list of banned substances.

Following the village’s initial March 2023 ban on the sale of products containing THC — the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana — other municipalities have followed with bans of their own. But some towns also have included kratom, another herbal product with stimulant-like effects.

“We are now going to join forces on that. It’s an addictive item,” said Mayor Craig Johnson. “When something is destructive to people, we need to remove it.”

The Food and Drug Administration has not approved any prescription or over-the-counter drug products containing kratom or its two main chemical components — mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. The federal agency “continues to warn consumers not to use kratom because of the risk of serious adverse events, including liver toxicity, seizures and substance use disorder,” according to its website.

But advocates have spoken of its use in dealing with severe chronic pain and managing addiction to other drugs.

Local mayors including Johnson have asked state lawmakers to address the issue, but legislation regulating hemp sales fell short in January.

A bill supported by Gov. JB Pritzker passed the state Senate, but failed to get a vote in the House amid lobbying by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, who wants to tax hemp sales in the city.

Following approval by the Elk Grove Village Board this week, the kratom ban — which applies to 30 licensed tobacco sellers in town — takes effect Feb. 21.