North Dakota Senate Replaces Kratom Regulations with Legislative Study

The North Dakota Senate has shifted its approach to kratom, a Southeast Asian plant often used for energy and pain management, by opting for further study instead of immediate regulation. On Tuesday, lawmakers amended House Bill 1566 to direct Legislative Management to examine kratom’s uses and potential regulations, passing the measure 31-15. The bill now returns to the House, which previously favored giving regulatory authority to the Agriculture Department.

Senator Jeff Magrum, who proposed the amendment, noted that a study is warranted given legislators’ limited familiarity with kratom. The plant’s products are widely available online, and the proposed study will explore both its benefits and regulatory needs. The full article can be read at KFGO’s website.