Officials say Antioch has become the first non-home rule community in Illinois to ban stores from selling products containing Delta-8 THC and kratom.
The Antioch Village Board voted on Wednesday to prohibit businesses in the village with liquor and tobacco licenses from selling the products.
Delta-8 THC has a similar molecular makeup to delta-9 THC, which is regulated by the state and only legally sold in licensed dispensaries.
Village trustees voted 5-0 to amend an ordinance implementing the new ban.
Antioch Mayor Scott Gartner said he has pushed for the village to be a leader within the state by restricting the sale of Delta-8 THC and kratom.
“By simply manipulating the molecules that make up delta-8 THC by exposure to heat, someone can create a similar form of THC that is found in marijuana, creating psychoactive effects,” Gartner said.
“Additionally, there is no way to verify who is manufacturing these products, or what is contained in them. We want to keep these types of products off store shelves and away from children in our community,” Gartner said.
The mayor said the village is believed to be the first non-home rule community in Illinois to ban the substances.
“We’re seeing more and more legislative bodies coming to the same realization that we have, that these products do not belong in our communities,” he said.
Last year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning to consumers about the risks of delta-8 THC.
“It is important for consumers to be aware that delta-8 THC products have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA for safe use in any context,” according to the FDA.
“They may be marketed in ways that put public health at risk and should especially be kept out of reach of children and pets,” the FDA said.
Several states, including boarding states Wisconsin and Indiana, have outlawed the sale and possession of kratom.
Antioch Police Chief Geoffrey Guttschow said that Illinois requires rigorous regulations on licensed cannabis dispensaries where Delta-9 THC is sold.
The police chief said quick marts and gas stations commonly sell Delta-8 THC products “in an unregulated market.”
“These dispensary regulations are in place to ensure the safety of the products sold within them,” Guttschow said.
“They encompass stringent quality control measures, rigorous testing requirements, strict age verification protocols, and comprehensive labeling standards designed to minimize potential risks associated with cannabis products,” Guttschow added.
The ordinance goes into effect on December 8.