Vienna joins Metropolis to ban sale of kratom

Last week Vienna became the fourth city in southern Illinois to ban the sale and delivery of the herbal supplement kratom.

On Friday, Vienna passed an ordinance declaring that the controversial substance "poses an ongoing threat to the health and safety" of minors and other vulnerable residents.

The ordinance makes it unlawful to sell or deliver kratom, its derivatives, or synthetic versions within city limits. 

Vienna joins the Southern Illinois cities of Herrin, Marion and Metropolis who banned the substance in some form earlier this year. Kratom is legal at the state level.

The herb is native to Southeast Asia. 

Some users report benefits from kratom, such as increased energy, pain relief, easing insomnia and opioid withdrawal symptoms. However, the claims are based on anecdotal evidence, and kratom has not been approved for any medical use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.