RIDGELAND, Miss. ( WJTV ) – Leaders in the City of Ridgeland have banned kratom from being sold in stores.

The Madison County Journal reported Ridgeland police will work with location business owners to remove kratom from their stores.

The new ordinance bans the distribution, purchase, possession or sale of synthetic cocaine, other synthetic products or kratom. The newspaper reported violators could face a $1,000 fine or 90 days in jail.

Extracted from the leaves of a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia, kratom is used to make capsules, powders and liquids. It’s often sold in gas stations or smoke shops, marketed as an aid for pain, anxiety and drug dependence.

Proponents of kratom say it’s a safe, natural herbal supplement that can help manage pain and ease the effects of opioid withdrawal.

It acts as a stimulant in low doses and a sedative at high doses, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, which says kratom can be addictive and can cause hallucinations, delusions and confusion. The DEA considers kratom a “drug and chemical of concern,” but it is not a controlled substance. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration hasn’t approved any drug products containing kratom or its main chemical components.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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