State Senate tosses Out Kratom Regulations in Favor of a Study

(By: Jeff Beach. North Dakota Monitor) – The path of kratom legislation took another turn in the North Dakota Legislature as the Senate changed a bill that sought to regulate the plant and turned it into a study.

Kratom is a plant native to Southeast Asia that is related to the coffee plant. Some people consider it an energy booster, like caffeine, or use it to manage pain. Kratom also has been used to wean people off drugs such as fentanyl and heroin with some people reporting withdrawal symptoms.

Earlier this session, lawmakers considered versions of legislation that proposed to ban kratom, require state regulation by two different agencies or various study proposals.

On Tuesday, Sen. Jeff Magrum, R-Hazelton, proposed an amendment to turn House Bill 1566 into a study by Legislative Management.

The amendment and the final bill passed on 31-15 votes.