Mount Carmel officials are moving forward with plans to prohibit the sale of certain synthetic drugs within the city limits.
During Monday afternoon's City Council meeting, Mayor Joe Judge announced he has requested the removal of synthetic kratom products, known as "7-O," and other synthetic gray-market drugs from businesses in Mount Carmel.
Judge said protecting the health and safety of residents is one of his responsibilities as mayor. He noted that while legislation banning kratom products stalled in the Illinois General Assembly, the city does not plan to wait for state action.
The mayor said he has consulted with officials at Wabash General Hospital, who told him they are not currently seeing an increase in cases involving the synthetic substances locally. However, Judge pointed to actions by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Food and Drug Administration, which are pursuing temporary federal restrictions on highly concentrated synthetic kratom compounds because of their potent opioid-like effects.
Judge told council members he has already directed Mount Carmel Police Officer David Houser to deliver letters asking local retailers to voluntarily remove the products from their shelves immediately.
Council members voiced their support for the effort, and Judge said he and City Clerk Ryan Turner will begin working with the city's attorney on an ordinance to ban the sale of synthetic kratom products and other synthetic gray-market substances within the corporate limits of Mount Carmel.
If approved, the ordinance could come before the city council within the next two meetings.