Headlines
Kratom Products Now Banned From Oxford
By Alyssa Schnugg
News Editor
alyssa.schnugg@hottytoddy.com
The Oxford Board of Aldermen approved a ban on synthetic products containing Kratom Tuesday.
Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Products sold in Oxford gas stations and alternative medicine stores will now have to remove Kratom products from their shelves after the Board of Aldermen approved a ban on synthetic products claiming to contain Kratom, a tree from Southeast Asia, with leaves that contain compounds that can have mind-altering effects.
A public hearing was held Tuesday evening during the aldermen’s regular meeting; however, no one spoke out for or against the new policy.
The Board generally has three readings for ordinances with one public hearing during the second reading. By state law, they must hold the two readings and public hearing although the Board’s policy is to have three readings for most ordinances. However, if the Board finds that the ordinance is of interest to the public’s health and safety, they can elect to vote after the public hearing during the second reading, which is what occurred Tuesday with the Kratom ban ordinance.
Oxford Police Interim Chief Jeff McCutchen told the Board Tuesday that the problem with the unregulated synthetic products is that there is no true way to know what it is actually in the product and how much Kratom the product contains.
“In April of this year we had a death where Kratom was a contributing factor,” he told the board.
While most ordinances go into effect 30 days after approval, the board also voted to waive the 30-day period for health and safety concerns.
The Mitragyna Speciosa tree, where Kratom comes from, has been used in Southeast Asia for hundreds of years to relieve pain. The leaves are often chewed or crushed and brewed as a tea. However, now synthetic versions in the form of pills, tablet, liquids and gum are being sold online and at gas stations, tobacco stores and other businesses.
Trade names selling the synthetic Kratom include Krathom, Kakuam, Ketum, Kratum, Ithang, Thang, Thom, Biak, Biak-Biak, Mambog, Super K, Life Force K, K-Chill, Herbal Speedball, K-shot and others.
Itawamba, Union, Monroe, Lowndes, Alcorn and Tishomingo counties have banned the substance, as have the cities of Fulton, New Albany, Mantachie and Pontotoc.
While some studies may show medical benefits of the plant itself, the Federal Drug Administration says the synthetic products being sold over the counter have not been proven to have any known medical benefits.
The entire ordinance amendment can be viewed online on the city’s website.
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Tbh
August 6, 2019 at 7:25 pm
So, I assume this means that the city, or perhaps the big pharma that funds these city ordanices has a plan to help those who use it in lieu of opiods? No? I thought not.
Why stop at kratom? I mean, if they will go to these lengths to end the sale of something that was “linked to” a single death, surely tobacco, alcohol and other “mind altering” drugs that have been “linked to” deaths can’t be far behind. right city counsel?
My favorite though is the “with leaves that contain compounds that can have mind-altering effects.” line. Obviously zero time put in by journalists to do basic, google-search level of research…
Rebecca
August 6, 2019 at 10:48 pm
Kratom is not synthetic!
CHRIS Kratom
August 7, 2019 at 2:52 am
This is either great news or uneducated idiots in law making positions. Since kratom is not a synthetic, simply a ground up leaf from a tree, this law ONLY bans synthetic versions. Tennessee when through this same situation a couple of years ago. They reversed a law banning kratom and now stores allow the sale sale of the unadulterated plant. UTAH has passed the first law regulating kratom yet making it legal.
Called the kratom protection act. Google senator Curt Bramble kratom. This gives other states a template on how to protect their citizens yet still keep this safe plant available. 4 other states have passed similar laws unanimously at the end of this years sessions. Promises of more states to pass along with 2 states reversing their current bans. Before lawmakers didn’t know about kratom and/or how to regulate it. So their only option was make it illegal or do nothing.
I’m hoping Oxford lawmakers are being progressive in going this route. If not, stores aren’t breaking the law for carrying natural kratom. Or the person writing this article has poorly described the new law.
Bryce
August 7, 2019 at 5:32 am
There’s nothing synthetic about kratom. It’s only the leaves of a tree. If companies are putting wierd additives in a product they sell that doesn’t mean the plant itself contains those chemicals. Also kratom is extremely inexpensive so it wouldn’t make sense for people to put other drugs into it. That would be like adding methamphetamine to coffee. It’s helping a lot of people. I no longer take any opiates (legal or illegal) and kratom has helped me stay away. It’s nowhere near as strong as opiates so I don’t stay in bed half the day. Its helped me begin working again.
Brian
August 8, 2019 at 8:26 am
This website reported that this hearing would be August 7th. The Oxford Board of Aldermen held this hearing August 6th! This is a sneaky, underhanded tactic done with the utmost arrogance, right out in the open, to turn some of your law abiding citizens into criminals. Shame on the Oxford Board of Aldermen.
Brian
August 8, 2019 at 8:28 am
Here is the link to the report from a few weeks ago, July 17. “A public hearing and second reading of the ordinance will be held at 5 p.m. on Aug. 7 before the Board of Aldermen at City Hall.” https://hottytoddy.com/2019/07/17/kratom-ban-back-on-the-table-in-oxford/