Kratom no longer allowed in Columbus

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- It is now official, Kratom is no longer allowed in the Friendly City.

On Tuesday, Mayor Robert Smith signed an ordinance banning the sale, use and distribution of Kratom within city limits.

All stores that previously sold Kratom have been notified of the changes and agreed to no longer sell the drug.

City leaders said Kratom is addictive and banning it from all stores is a proactive step in the right direction.

“Even though some people say that they use it for a painkiller, and some people will tell you that it’s a drug it can be dangerous to your health, but I look at it from the standpoint. If I have a pain, if I’m hurting that bad then I’m going to my physician to get some relief rather than going to a convenience store and buying it across the counter,” said Mayor Smith.

“Right now we have people that are using this product to overcome other addictions, and as they’re using this product they’re going out and spending their hard earned money that they would be spending on their family, buying food to put on the table and a roof over their house,” said Lt. Eddie Hawkins, with the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics. “They’re spending up to $800 a week buying this product because of the addiction that they have with it, so we see it as a big problem here.”

Anyone caught using, selling or distributing Kratom, could be fined $1,000 and can even face time behind bars.