The Lee County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to ban kratom in Lee County, Sheriff Jim H. Johnson said in a Facebook post. Johnson thanked the board, members of the public and others who assisted in addressing the issue.
He said the full ordinance is available for public viewing at the Lee County Board of Supervisors office on West Main Street in Tupelo. Johnson said the Lee County Sheriff’s Office will allow a 10-day grace period beginning Feb. 18, 2026, for all stores and shops in the county to remove the product from their shelves, after which enforcement will begin.
“Because of your efforts, a product that has harmed so many people will no longer be available in our county,” Johnson said in the post. He added that he will “continue to stand for what I believe is right as we work together to make our county a better and safer place for everyone.”
Kratom is an herbal product derived from a Southeast Asian tree and is used by some as a stimulant or to relieve pain; it has drawn scrutiny from public health officials and lawmakers in several jurisdictions. The ban and scheduled enforcement mark a local step in broader debates over regulation of the product.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more details emerge.
