Salem, Illinois City Council Unanimously Bans Sale of Kratom and 7-OH Products

Why it matters

Salem's unanimous ban — effective immediately — reflects how local governments are acting on their own after state legislatures stall on kratom bills. It also illustrates growing community-level pressure from business owners and residents who say they are witnessing direct harm.

The big picture

Mayor Nic Farley brought the ordinance to the council after a local business leader reported watching someone they knew closely deteriorate from kratom use. A second retailer in town had already stopped selling the product voluntarily, telling city officials it was turning their customers into zombies. The ordinance covers both kratom and 7-OH products and requires retailers to pull inventory immediately. Salem police planned to visit businesses that week to verify compliance and monitor for continued sales.

Key findings

• The Salem City Council voted unanimously on July 7, 2026 to ban the sale and delivery of kratom and 7-OH products in the city
• The ordinance took effect immediately, requiring retailers to remove products from shelves without a phase-out period
• Retailers face per-incident fines for carrying the products after the ban
• Mayor Farley cited direct community reports of harm and a local business owner who voluntarily stopped selling because of customer deterioration
• Salem police chief Tyler Rose confirmed officers would tour businesses that week to ensure compliance
• The mayor noted that the state legislature had been expected to pass a statewide ban but did not

What they say

"We want to make sure that that poison is out of our community," Mayor Nic Farley said. "We've heard from too many people about the lives that it's affected and we just feel like it was the right thing to do."

Bottom line

Salem, Illinois became one of the latest cities to enact an immediate local ban on kratom and 7-OH after state-level legislation stalled — a pattern playing out across the country as local officials respond to community harm reports without waiting for state or federal action.