Winchester developing ordinance limiting sale of Delta THC and Kratom
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By Carmen Ensinger
Winchester Police Chief Steve Doolin asked the council to develop an ordinance prohibiting the sale of Delta THC and Kratom to persons under the age of 21 and prohibit the display of these products to persons under 21.
“The recent break in at the Food Mart – these were the only items that were taken,” Doolin said. “They didn’t go for the cigarettes or the alcohol – they just wanted this stuff.”
THC stands for Tetra-hydrocannabinol and there are several different forms of THC, including Delta 8, Delta 9 and Delta 10.
Doolin presented some information to council members from Healthline regarding THC.
The THC found in cannabis plants is typically Delta 9. Cannabis plants contain dozens of different cannabinoids. These plant-based chemicals each have their own unique effects on the human body.
Delta 9 is the most common form of THC. However there are other forms of THC out there. Delta 8 and Delta 10 are found in trace amounts in cannabis plants.
Delta 8 is a psychoactive substance found in the cannabis sativa plant, of which marijuana and hemp are two varieties. Delta 8 is one of over 100 cannabinoids produced naturally by the cannabis plant, but is not found in significant amounts in the cannabis plant. As a result, concentrated amounts of Delta 8 THC are typically manufactured from hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD).
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. They may be marketed in ways that put the public health at risk and should especially be kept out of reach of children and pets.
A combination of factors has led the FDA to provide consumers with information. These factors include:
An uptick in adverse event reports to the FDA and the nation’s poison control centers.
Marketing, including online marketing of products that is appealing to children.
Concerns regarding contamination due to methods of manufacturing that may, in some cases be used to produce marketed Delta 8 THC products.
Doolin presented an ordinance, adopted by the Village of Antioch, which would address the sale of items containing Delta 8 and Kratom. They were the first municipality in Illinois to pass an ordinance pertaining to Delta THC and Kratom.
Basically, the ordinance says that any new business coming into town who request a liquor license or tobacco license, must agree not to sell Delta 8 THC or Kratom products.
Those currently selling them are grandfathered in. However, in the ordinance drafted by Antioch, one of the clauses says: “All licensees regulated under this Ordinance shall not order any additional produces for sale after the thirtieth day after the effective date of this Ordinance.”
City Attorney John Paul Coonrod was going to draw up an ordinance for Winchester so it isn’t for certain which parts of the Antioch ordinance will be included or if the establishments currently selling these items will be grandfathered in for as long as they are in business for a limited time or until they sell out of the product.
“Whatever you do, you need to make the fine steep for violating this ordinance for us to be able to enforce it,” Doolin said. “Because that is the only way you are going to get their attention – to hit them in their wallet.”
