TOLEDO, Ohio — Toledo City Council unanimously approved a ban Wednesday on sales of synthetic kratom products, which council member Sam Melden, the driving force behind recent efforts to regulate the drug, hopes will crack down on "the derivatives and all of these wild, wild forms."

Melden clarified that the ban does not touch kratom in its natural leaf form, which council has requested further research on.

"This is really about ... removing access (to kratom) in so many places in different places throughout our city," Melden said.

Toledo's local ban comes as a state senator has introduced legislation in the statehouse to control sales. Also, Gov. Mike DeWine urged the Ohio Pharmacy Board in August to ban the drug statewide.

Kratom, a plant native to Southeast Asia, is often sold in po

See Full Page