Pike County Bans Sales of Kratom, Phenibut, and 7-OH Products

County officials take action to prevent the sale of these substances, citing public health concerns.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Pike County, Illinois has approved an ordinance banning the sale of kratom, phenibut, and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) within the county. The decision was made after the state's attorney and a local ministry focused on substance abuse raised concerns about the growing use and potential for abuse of these legal but potentially harmful substances.

Why it matters

Kratom, phenibut, and 7-OH are not currently controlled under federal law, allowing them to be sold as supplements or 'legal highs' despite warnings from the FDA about their risks. This ban aims to get ahead of potential substance abuse issues in the county by restricting access to these unregulated products.

The details

The ordinance was approved after the Pike County State's Attorney, Walker Filbert, and a member of the local ministry Chain Breakers, brought attention to the issue. Filbert was already aware of kratom and its potential for abuse, while the Chain Breakers representative raised concerns after someone they were working with to overcome addiction suffered an overdose involving kratom. The county's law enforcement will now notify local establishments about the new ban, which carries fines but no criminal penalties since the substances themselves remain legal.

  • The Pike County Board approved the ordinance banning kratom, phenibut, and 7-OH sales in February 2026.

The players

Walker Filbert

The Pike County State's Attorney who brought attention to the issue of kratom and other unregulated substances in the county.

Chuck Reed

A member of the local ministry Chain Breakers who approached Filbert with concerns about kratom after someone they were working with suffered an overdose.

Reta Hoskin

The Pike County Board Chairwoman who stated the county wants to "step in to protect and prevent" kratom from becoming a problem.

Pike County Sheriff's Department

The department that is in the process of notifying local establishments about the new ordinance banning the sale of kratom, phenibut, and 7-OH products.

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What they’re saying

“Kratom seems to be a drug that people are starting to take more often. We want to step in to protect and prevent it from becoming a problem.”

— Reta Hoskin, Pike County Board Chairwoman (myjournalcourier.com)

“Kratom is naturally grown and it's addictive. People revert to using kratom to get the high effect. It's the same effect as some illegal drugs.”

— Walker Filbert, Pike County State's Attorney (myjournalcourier.com)

“This person has spent thousands of dollars on this unregulated drug. It's something that is easily abused and has no redeeming qualities.”

— Walker Filbert, Pike County State's Attorney (myjournalcourier.com)

What’s next

The Pike County Sheriff's Department is in the process of notifying local establishments about the new ordinance banning the sale of kratom, phenibut, and 7-OH products within the county.

The takeaway

This ban highlights growing concerns about the potential for abuse of legal but unregulated substances like kratom, and the steps some local governments are taking to restrict access and get ahead of potential public health issues in their communities.