Antioch bans sale of delta-8 THC and kratom

Antioch businesses with liquor and tobacco licenses are now prohibited from selling products containing delta-8 THC and kratom.

The prohibition, approved 5-0 by the village board last week, went into effect Friday and affects about six retail establishments in town.

Delta-8 THC has a similar molecular makeup to delta-9 THC, which is state regulated and legally can be sold only in licensed dispensaries.

By exposing delta-8 THC to heat, a similar form of THC found in marijuana can be created and produce psychoactive effects, Mayor Scott Gartner said. There is no way to verify who is manufacturing the products or what is in them, he added.

"We want to keep these types of products off store shelves and away from children in our community," he said in an announcement of the new prohibition.

Antioch is believed to be the first non-home-rule community in Illinois to ban the products, but Gartner expects more to follow suit.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration last year issued a warning to consumers about the risks of delta-8 THC, saying the products haven't been evaluated or approved by the agency for safe use.

"They may be marketed in ways that put public health at risk and should especially be kept out of reach of children and pets," the FDA said.

According to the FDA, the products are packaged and labeled in ways that may appeal to children, such as gummies, chocolates, cookies or candies, and can be available at convenience stores and gas stations, where there may not be age limits on who can purchase these products.

Kratom commonly refers to an herbal substance that can produce opioid and stimulant-like effects, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Several states, including Wisconsin and Indiana, have outlawed the sale and possession of kratom.

The FDA has warned consumers not to use kratom because of the risk of serious adverse events, including liver toxicity, seizures, substance use disorder and, in rare cases, death, usually when used in combination with other drugs.

Police Chief Geoffrey Guttschow said Illinois requires rigorous regulations on licensed cannabis dispensaries where delta-9 is sold, compared to quick marts and gas stations where unregulated delta-8 THC products are commonly found for sale.