BARTLETT, ILLINOIS KRATOM BAN: BOARD OF TRUSTEES VOTES TOMORROW OCTOBER 20 — ATTEND OR EMAIL TODAY

Bartlett’s Board of Trustees will consider an ordinance to prohibit the sale and distribution of all kratom products in the village tomorrow night, October 20 at 7:00 PM CT. We need Illinois advocates to attend, speak, and email the Board today.

Important: Form letters and copy-pasted emails are being dismissed. Every message must be written in the consumer’s own words.

Meeting Details

📅 Tuesday, October 20, 2026

⏰ 7:00 PM CT

📍 Bartlett Village Hall, 228 S. Main Street, Bartlett, IL

📋 Agenda Item 11(E)(1) — Kratom Ordinance

💻 Join virtually: events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/b9512870-0e14-4b0d-a32f-74432139f341@21507938-f8db-4d6e-9c24-a5dbcbaf121e

Attendees are given 3 minutes to address the Board.

Take Action Now

Step 1 — Attend or Join Virtually Tomorrow Night

Show up in person at Bartlett Village Hall or join virtually using the link above. Sign up to speak and share your personal story — you have 3 minutes. Keep your message personal, brief, and respectful.

Step 2 — Submit Written Comments to Lorna Giless Today

📧 Email: lgiless@bartlettil.gov

📞 Phone: 630-837-0800

Subject line: “Written Comments for October 20 Board Meeting — Kratom Ordinance, Item 11(E)(1)”

Ask that your comments be distributed to the Village President and all Trustees and included in the meeting record.

Step 3 — Email the Village President and Board of Trustees Directly

📧 Village Pres. Gunsteen: dgunsteen@bartlettil.gov

📧 Trustee Suwanski: rsuwanski@bartlettil.gov

📧 Trustee Gandsey: sgandsey@bartlettil.gov

📧 Trustee Battermann: jbattermann@bartlettil.gov

📧 Trustee Deyne: rdeyne@bartlettil.gov

📧 Trustee Hopkins: ahopkins@bartlettil.gov

📧 Trustee LaPorte: jlaporte@bartlettil.gov

📧 Copy and paste all: dgunsteen@bartlettil.gov; rsuwanski@bartlettil.gov; sgandsey@bartlettil.gov; jbattermann@bartlettil.gov; rdeyne@bartlettil.gov; ahopkins@bartlettil.gov; jlaporte@bartlettil.gov

What to Say

Write in your own words. Personal, brief, and respectful. Share your personal experience and how natural kratom leaf has helped you. Use this as a guide:

“Please amend this ordinance into a regulatory framework, not a blanket prohibition. The DEA drew a clear line between natural kratom leaf and concentrated synthetic 7-OH, scheduling only the synthetic product while leaving natural leaf alone. Bartlett should follow that lead. Support age limits, independent testing, and accurate labeling. A blanket ban hurts responsible adults while dangerous synthetics continue to circulate.”

Why This Ban Gets It Wrong

The Bartlett ordinance would prohibit the sale and distribution of all kratom products in the village without drawing any distinction between natural kratom leaf and dangerous concentrated synthetic 7-OH products. That is the wrong approach, and it contradicts action already taken at the federal level.

The DEA drew a clear line, scheduling concentrated synthetic 7-OH while leaving natural kratom leaf alone. The FDA has specifically recommended that synthetic 7-OH be classified as a controlled substance, not natural kratom leaf. A blanket ban that treats them identically ignores that federal distinction entirely and punishes responsible adults for a problem they did not create.

The right answer is a regulatory framework: age limits, independent testing, and accurate labeling that keeps dangerous synthetic products out of the marketplace while preserving access to natural kratom for responsible adults. That is what the Board should be considering, not a blanket prohibition.

Kratom advocates have taken this message directly to Washington. In a recent Congressional briefing, advocates urged lawmakers to support natural kratom leaf products while warning of the distinct risks posed by synthetic concentrates, reinforcing the same distinction that federal regulators have already drawn. Read more: Kratom Advocates Brief U.S. Congress in Support of Natural Leaf Products, Warn of the Risks Posed by Synthetics.

As research discussed on the Huberman Lab podcast makes clear, natural kratom leaf has a distinct profile that sets it apart from synthetic concentrates. That distinction was further reinforced by an FDA clinical trial, the first of its kind, which examined kratom’s pharmacological profile and underscored why natural leaf should not be treated the same as dangerous synthetic 7-OH. For the latest on kratom legality in Illinois and other states, visit our kratom legality map. Learn more about kratom legality and regulation nationwide.

The Bigger Picture

The vote is tomorrow night. Every personal email sent today and every voice heard at the meeting tomorrow makes a difference. If you are not in the Bartlett area, share this with anyone you know in Illinois who could attend or email the Board today.

Remember: form letters and copy-pasted emails are being dismissed. Write in your own words. Tell the Board your personal story. That is what will make a difference tomorrow night.

The vote is Tuesday October 20 at 7:00 PM CT. Act today.