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Police Jury introduces ordinance to ban sale of kratom and related synthetic products; final vote next month
Summary
Following testimony from law enforcement and the coroner, the Sabine Parish Police Jury introduced an ordinance to ban sales of kratom and similar novel/ hemp-derived compounds within parish boundaries; the ordinance was introduced and will be returned for a final vote at the next regular meeting.
The Sabine Parish Police Jury on March 19 introduced an ordinance that would ban the sale of kratom and certain synthetic or hemp-derived products within the parish and scheduled the measure for final consideration at the next meeting.
Law enforcement officers, the coroner’s office and the district attorney’s office urged the jury to adopt the ban. A speaker from the sheriff’s office and the coroner described local incidents and public-health impacts related to the substance, saying the coroner’s office “certainly will back and go along from a public health standpoint” with an ordinance to prohibit the sale. Law-enforcement officials and the coroner cited documented local overdoses and an increase in emergency transports and mental-health incidents tied to the product.
Multiple officials described how sellers sometimes avoid age checks or package the products to circumvent laws: one presenter said some stores had sold items without checking ID and sometimes the product was concealed during cash sales. Officials noted the legislature recently raised the purchaser age for some hemp-derived products from 18 to 21 but said local ordinances provide an additional enforcement tool.
The jury introduced the ordinance at the request of law enforcement and public-health officials. Juror Beau moved to introduce the ordinance and Juror Barry seconded; the motion to introduce passed 8–1. The jury instructed staff (parish attorney and clerk) to draft ordinance language, coordinate with the district attorney’s office and return the measure for a final vote at the next regular meeting. No final adoption occurred at this meeting; the measure will appear on the next meeting agenda for a recorded final vote.
Officials asked that local penalties be calibrated to provide prosecutors and licensing authorities effective enforcement mechanisms. The jury and staff agreed to circulate draft language from neighboring parishes and to consult with the district attorney and Tobacco Control/ATC about potential penalties and enforcement procedures.
