North Dakota bill to ban kratom fails, but regulation bill being drafted

BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — North Dakota lawmakers chose not to ban the plant-based substance kratom, but one lawmaker indicated a bill to regulate the substance is in the works.

House Bill 1101 would have added mitragynine, derived from kratom, to a list of Schedule I controlled substances. Lawmakers heard testimony that the substance is sometimes used in pain management and opioid withdrawal.

House members voted 77-15 on Wednesday to defeat the bill.

Rep. Eric Murphy, R-Grand Forks, who has a doctorate degree in biochemistry and neurochemistry from Ohio State University, said he thought listing kratom as a Schedule I drug goes too far.

Several people submitted testimony that kratom, which comes from a tree that grows in southeast Asia, has helped with chronic pain.

“There is a lot of excitement around this,” he said.

Rep. Daniel Johnston, R-Kathryn, said during  committee discussion that he would bring a bill draft for state regulation of kratom.

Johnston and other committee members noted the federal Drug Enforcement Administration had not listed kratom or mitragynine as a banned drug as the North Dakota bill had called for.

(Story written by Jeff Beach – North Dakota Monitor)