North Dakota Signs New Kratom Law: Age Limit, Licensing, and a Ban on Synthetic Derivatives

Gov. Kelly Armstrong has signed House Bill 1628, creating North Dakota’s first statewide regulatory framework for kratom. The law, effective once administrative rules are finalized, permits natural kratom sales to adults 21 and older while banning synthetic derivatives such as 7-OH, MGM-15, MGM-16, and mitragynine pseudoindoxyl.

Under the measure, retailers must hold an annual license from the Attorney General’s Office, verify mitragynine and 7-OH concentrations through accredited lab testing, and label products accurately. Packaging that resembles candy or otherwise appeals to children is barred, and unlicensed sales are a Class B misdemeanor.

According to a statement from the governor’s office, the bill was signed September 4, 2026, and comes as lawmakers separately advanced Senate Bill 2408, a competing proposal that would have classified all kratom as a controlled substance alongside heroin and LSD. Attorney General Drew Wrigley said, “A meaningful ban on synthetic kratom is now the law in North Dakota.”