As the village of Morton Grove considers an ordinance that would ban the sale of some THC-related substances, trustees heard from a man who urged removing kratom from the outlaw list.
“Consider the science behind the safety of kratom, and how many people rely on it every day,” James Pratt told the Village Board. “It’s used as a cup of coffee to help with focus and energy, others use it to manage pain and rely on it as an alternative to opioids.”
Speaking during the public comment portion of the April 8 Village Board meeting, Pratt, who lives in Deerfield, promoted the advantages of kratom. It was not immediately clear why Pratt addressed the board.
The April 8 meeting marked the first reading of an ordinance that would limit the sale of unregulated cannabis-like products in the village.
“The intent of this ordinance is to address cannabis-like products that are currently unregulated in Illinois,” Village Administrator Charles Meyer told the board.
As of Jan. 1, 2020, state law allowed the sale, use and possession of recreational cannabis – or marijuana, as it is more commonly known – in Illinois for adults age 21 and over. Subsequently, municipalities, including Morton Grove, established local ordinances related to that new state law. But, left out of that was rules on substances such as Delta-8, Delta-9, kratom and more.
“The Village has made deliberate efforts to regulate cannabis products within the community. However, over the past few years there has been an increase in the availability of “cannabis-like” products which often contain the same intoxicating effects of cannabis but are sold outside of State-licensed dispensaries,” reads background information on the proposed ordinance that was provided to village trustees. “These products are regularly available in stores that sell tobacco and gas stations. The lack of regulations allows for the sale of these products without restrictions on age or the other deliberate regulations enacted by the Village.”
Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as Delta-8 THC, and Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as Delta-9 THC, are described as psychoactive substances typically made from hemp-derived cannabidiol.
Though the proposed ordinance lists several substances that would be regulated, Pratt only spoke about kratom. He explained that it is a completely different plant from cannabis, that it is native to southeast Asia and should fall into its own legislation. It is also a product, he said, that has given many people “a second life.”
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse – which is part of the federal government’s National Institutes of Health – kratom is an herbal substance that can have opioid- and stimulant-like effects. Though legal and relatively easily accessible, uses of kratom are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
“Instead of banning the sale of kratom,” Pratt suggested, “make sure it’s regulated.”
The proposed ordinance would amend the current local law. There would be no impact to recreational or medicinal cannabis sold at state licensed dispensaries in the village. The amendment would limit sales of cannabis-like products to only such state licensed establishments, according to text of the proposed ordinance.
There is one state-licensed cannabis dispensary in Morton Grove, but Meyer said there are a total of 13 establishments in the village that currently sell cannabis-like products.
The ordinance states that those products are often sold in smoke shops, vape stores and gas stations, and often have the same intoxicating effects of cannabis. However, the products are not licensed or regulated by state law, and are not allowed to be sold in licensed cannabis establishments.
A second reading of the proposed ordinance is expected at the next meeting. Trustees would then be expected to vote on it. If the ordinance is approved, it would be effective Aug. 1.
In his research, Meyer said he discovered 25 other communities in Illinois that have taken similar steps to ban the sale of THC products.
Elizabeth Owens-Schiele is a freelancer.
