Palos Park officials are going to take a long look at dealing with vape shops and kratom.
At the June 22 village council meeting, Village Manager Jeannine Smith brought up concerns about both issues and council members discussed what could be put into future ordinances.
Smith did some heavy lifting when it came to researching kratom products, which are sold in gas stations and convenience stores. It’s an intoxicating substance that, according to Smith’s research, can cause dependence and addiction, respiratory depression, seizures, liver injury, psychotic disturbances, overdoses and in some circumstances, death.
“It is currently being marketed in various forms, but there is a particular appeal to young people,” Smith said. “They sell gummies in packs with cartoon-like characters. They sell beverages that look like drinks that you might want to purchase for an energy boost.
“It’s really disturbing to see it.”
Smith said that Palos Park is not alone in this fight.
Oak Lawn, Orland Park, Tinley Park Oak Park, Mount Prospect, Prospect Heights, Rolling Meadows, Elk Grove Village, Lincolnwood and Winnetka are some Chicago-area communities that have determined that the health and safety concerns association with kratom outweigh the limited commercial benefits that come from its sales.
Other communities around the state have also had concerns.
Commissioner Rebecca Petan admitted she didn’t know a lot about kratom until Smith brought it to her attention and did her own research.
“As a resident and mother, when I read this and see this, it’s concerning,” Petan said.
New Commissioner Jay Vincent called the kratom products “problematic.”
Commissioner Mike Wade said he will be in favor of whatever route the council takes on the issue.
Police Commissioner Dan Polk, who is outspoken on many subjects, is taking a wait-and-see approach to this issue.
“Clearly, it’s a public risk,” he said. “So is smoking cigarettes. I’m more than willing to see how it’s proposed and to see how we enforce it.”
Mayor Nicole Milovich-Walters said that the age limit is 18 to purchase kratom products and not 21 and she finds that “bizarre.”
“The (Food and Drug Administration) doesn’t regulate it in any way, that makes me nervous,” she said. “This is a product that can give you some sort of high so to speak.”
The vape shop issue was also kicked around by the council. Currently, there are three vape shops in Palos Park, including two close to each other at 12936 LaGrange Road and 13034 LaGrange Road.
They are both in close proximity to Sandburg High School.
The staff recommend a minimum distance of 1,000 feet between any tobacco or vape retailer and any school, daycare center, public park, playground, library, recreational facility of similar places that feature youth-oriented uses, Smith said.
At this point, Milovich-Walters said that vape shops are businesses allowed to work in Palos Park and landlords are allowed to rent to them without the village’s permission.
But there could be an ordinance drawn up to limit the vape shops in the village to three and require a license as those businesses who sell liquor are required.
That way, the village can control how many vape shops will be in the community and if one drops out, officials can limit it to two.
Milovich-Walters is looking for more opinions on these two issues.
“I would like to get everyone’s input so that manager Smith can start to create something that we can look at,” the mayor said. “We can start crafting what we think is not overreaching from a government standpoint but is also protecting our community.
“Palos Park is known for being outdoors and a healthy lifestyle. From my perspective I would like to move forward and create an ordinance that incorporates so far some of the things that we’ve talked about.”
