Alton City Council in Illinois Bans Kratom Within City Limits

Yet another municipality has rallied to ban kratom after the recent smear campaign by the F D A. Alton City Council members passed a new ordinance Wednesday banning the possession and sale of kratom. Police Chief Jake Simmons testified in favor of the ordinance, stating that “It is a very dangerous substance,” Simmons said. “That is why we have banned its sale in Alton, and we encourage other areas around here to do the same thing.” Simmons goes on to erroneously compare kratom to bath salts, citing the immediate need for a ban.

The ordinance:

Title 7

Chapter 15

Kratom Prohibited

7-15-1: PURPOSES: This chapter is enacted to protect, preserve and promote the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the City of Alton by prohibiting the possession, distribution or delivery of any substance containing Kratom as hereinafter defined, it being the specific finding of the City of Alton that such substances have a dangerous effect upon anyone using said substances and have no practical medicinal or beneficial purposes.

7-15-2: DEFINITIONS: When used in this chapter, the following words have the meanings as hereinafter provided;

DELIVER: the actual, constructive, or attempted transfer from one person to another of Kratom, whether or not there is an agency relationship, and includes a sale;

DISTRIBUTE: to deliver other than by administering or dispensing Kratom;

KRATOM: includes any product, material, compound, mixture or preparation containing any quantity of the following substances having a stimulant effect on the central nervous system, 7-Hydroxymitragynine, Mitragynine, and Epicatechin;

POSSESS: means with the knowledge of the presence and nature of a substance, either actually or constructively to be in control of a substance. A person has actual possession if he has the substance on his person or within easy reach and convenient control. A person who, although not in actual possession, has the power and intention at a given time to exercise dominion or control over the substance either directly or through another person or persons is in constructive possession of it.

7-15-3: GENERAL PROHIBITION: It shall be unlawful for any person to possess, distribute or deliver any substance containing Kratom as defined in this chapter.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

If you are a resident of Alton, please take a moment to contact the Mayor, City Councilors, and Police Chief Simmons to let them know kratom is not bath salts, and that they should seriously consider educating themselves further on the benefits that kratom can provide for residents in Alton.

It might also be worth sending over some resources, like the Florida Department of Law Enforcement – Official Statewide Intelligence Drug Report on Kratom.

Excerpt of conclusion of this report:

“A review of available law enforcement and laboratory sources in Florida demonstrates that Kratom does not currently constitute a significant risk to the safety and welfare of Florida residents. According to the Florida Department of Health (DOH), no pervasive health issues have been attributed to the ingestion of Kratom products in Florida. Diagnostic tests that would reveal the presence of Mitragynine are not routinely performed on patients during emergency room visits. Therefore, arriving at the precise number of Mitragynine exposures that result in harm to the patient is difficult to assess.”

Other Council members you can contact:

Mayor Brant Walker – 618.463.3500

Alderman Ward 1: Brian Campbell – 618.223.0735

Alderman Ward 2: Carolyn MacAfee – 618.465.0859

Alderman Ward 3: Michael Velloff – 618.208.7010

Alderman Ward 4: Tammy Smit – 618.975.9020

Alderman Ward 5: Charles Brake – 618.462.7253

Alderman Ward 6: Stephanie Elliott – 618.462.8150

Alderman Ward 7: David Bould – 618.465.8002