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Council directs attorney to draft ordinance aimed at banning kratom sales
Summary
Councilmember Scott Haycraft urged the city to prohibit sales of kratom, citing safety and lack of FDA approval; the council voted to direct the city attorney to draft ordinance language clarifying the city's existing ban on intoxicating substances.
The Hannibal City Council voted May 19 to instruct the city attorney to draft an ordinance clarifying that locally sold kratom is prohibited.
Councilman Scott Haycraft raised the issue, telling colleagues he had seen kratom "sold in most gas stations, vending stores" and that it is "not approved by the FDA." Haycraft said kratom is unregulated, at risk of contamination, and "doesn't warrant to be sold in our community." He asked the council to consider a local ban rather than a limited, age-based approach.
City Attorney James said the council previously used an ordinance (modeled on earlier 'artificial marijuana' rules) to prohibit substances intended to get users high and that staff had reviewed kratom in 2017. "I think we should probably reexamine that, and we should look at doing a small modification to that ordinance which prohibits intoxicating substances," he said, and recommended clarifying definitions so the ordinance could be used for enforcement without infringing constitutional protections for marijuana.
Mayor Pro Tem and other council members supported sending the matter to the attorney's office. Council motioned to direct the city attorney to draft the ordinance and carry it back for first reading at the next meeting; the motion carried by voice vote.
Next steps: the city attorney will draft ordinance language clarifying the municipal definition of prohibited intoxicating substances and return it for council consideration.
