Ouachita Parish Police Jury to look at potential ban on Kratom

OUACHITA PARISH, La. ( KTVE/KARD ) —

Last Monday, an ordinance was introduced to the Ouachita Parish Police Jury that would, if voted on, prohibit the sale and distribution of Kratom in the unincorporated areas of Ouachita Parish.

Kratom is a legal herbal substance from Southeast Asia, that can be taken in pill form, steeped in to make a tea, or can smoked or chewed. It is also an unregulated drug, meaning manufactured somewhere else and the doses are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

When Kratom is used in lower dosages, it acts as a stimulant, but when it is abused or used in high dosages, it acts as a sedative.

The concerns of having no regulations on the dosage amounts and the fact that it can be contaminated were brought up to the Ouachita Parish Police Jury. The OPPJ, now concerned about the impacts Kratom can have introduced an ordinance last Monday.

The jurors have been contacted by concerned individuals in the community, as well as some law enforcement officers and folks that deal with narcotics on the streets daily about their concerns regarding the sale of Kratom. The usage of Kratom, and the individuals who are buying it.

Shane Smiley | Ouachita Parish Police Jury President

Last year the state of Louisiana put a law in that prohibited citizens under the age of 21 from buying Kratom. They then left local government agencies to regulate the sale of Kratom for individuals above the age of 21.

Many companies across the Parish sell this substance in their stores and make a decent profit from it. If this ordinance is passed it could have a great impact on the stores profit margin.

It does bring them a pretty hefty profit so I can’t imagine that they’ll be happy if the police jury is successful in banning the sale of it in the unincorporated areas of the parish.

Captain Doug Schmitz | Commander, Metro Narcotics Unit of Ouachita Parish

However this doesn’t mean that all stores in Ouachita Parish will have to take this product off of their shelves. If it is passed it would only take affect in the unincorporated areas outside of West Monroe, Monroe, Sterlington, and Richwood. Companies in these cities (West Monroe, Monroe, Sterlington, and Richwood) would still be able to sell Kratom for now.

A public hearing will be held at the next few meetings of the OPPJ to help companies and individuals to speak for or against Kratom, before the vote is cast. The OPPJ is willing to work with both sides to help come up with a solution that benefits everyone.

And ask them to look at ways that maybe we could all work together. In terms of governing the sale of this product where it doesn’t hurt business and where it doesn’t hurt our constituents.

Shane Smiley | Ouachita Parish Police Jury President

If this were to be passed, Ouachita Parish would join LaSalle, Concordia, and Franklin Parish in the banning of Kratom.

The public hearing and vote is set for Monday, October 21st, but could be moved to the next meeting in November, to allow jurors to do more research. You can visit the Ouachita Parish Police Jury website to find more information on the meetings and how to be apart.

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