NORTH DAKOTA: STOP THE KRATOM & 7-OH BAN
Lawmakers Have a Chance to Fix This on September 2. Tell Them to Choose Regulation, Not Criminalization.
North Dakota needs to hear from you NOW.
Earlier this month, North Dakota took the extreme step of using emergency powers to place 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) and other kratom-related compounds into Schedule I.
Now, lawmakers are coming back to Bismarck for a special legislative session beginning Wednesday, September 2 specifically to decide the future of kratom policy in the state.
This is North Dakota’s opportunity to correct course.
Protect kids? Absolutely. Require testing? Absolutely. Set manufacturing and labeling standards? Absolutely. Make responsible adults criminals for choosing kratom or 7-OH? NO.
WHAT’S HAPPENING SEPTEMBER 2
The North Dakota Legislature’s Joint Policy Committee will meet Wednesday, September 2 at 10:30 a.m. CT to consider two major kratom proposals:
HB 1628: Regulate Kratom
HB 1628 creates a regulatory framework for kratom products and prohibits their sale to anyone under 21.
SB 2408: Schedule I
SB 2408 would place certain “mitragynine synthetic derivatives” into Schedule I and establish criminal penalties for their possession and use.
7-HOPE supports responsible regulation. We strongly oppose policies that unnecessarily criminalize adult access to 7-OH or kratom.
THIS DIDN’T HAVE TO HAPPEN
North Dakota had responsible options available before resorting to emergency prohibition.
Lawmakers could have required:
- 21+ sales and strict age verification
- Independent product testing
- Accurate labeling and serving information
- Manufacturing and purity standards
- Child-resistant packaging
- Restrictions on irresponsible marketing
- Clear rules to remove adulterated or noncompliant products from the market
Those are the kinds of guardrails 7-HOPE has consistently supported. The organization has advocated for regulation, research, consumer education and product standards rather than simply banning access.
If North Dakota lawmakers can sit down now and discuss sensible regulation, they should choose that path instead of continuing an emergency approach that threatens responsible adults with criminal penalties.
TAKE ACTION NOW
1. CONTACT YOUR NORTH DAKOTA LAWMAKERS
Tell your state senator and representative:
Support responsible regulation of kratom and 7-OH. Do NOT make responsible adult consumers criminals.
Ask lawmakers to:
✓ Support a strong regulatory framework based on age restrictions, testing, labeling and manufacturing standards.
✓ Reject Schedule I treatment for 7-OH and other kratom-derived products simply because they are concentrated, converted or processed.
✓ Protect responsible adult access to BOTH kratom and 7-OH.
✓ Replace prohibition with science-based consumer protections.
FIND YOUR NORTH DAKOTA LEGISLATORS
2. SUBMIT TESTIMONY BEFORE THE SEPTEMBER 2 HEARING
The Joint Policy Committee hearing begins at 10:30 a.m. CT on Wednesday, September 2.
North Dakota allows the public to submit testimony for legislative hearings. Tell lawmakers how kratom or 7-OH has affected your life and why losing legal access matters to you.
The Legislature states that online testimony for public hearings must be submitted at least one hour before the hearing begins.
STEPS BELOW:
Visit: https://www.ndlegis.gov/legend/committee/hearings/public-schedule/
- Go to the hearing schedule and locate HB 1628 or SB 2408.
- Click “Submit Testimony” for the HEARING abb.
- Enter your name, email, phone number and city/state.
- Select whether your testimony is in support, in opposition, or neutral.
- Choose written only, written + oral remotely, or written + oral in person.
- Upload the testimony as a PDF or .txt file and submit. North Dakota allows up to five documents per bill.
Importantly, the Legislature says testimony for a public hearing must be submitted at least one hour before the hearing starts, so for this 10:30 a.m. CT hearing the deadline should be 9:30 a.m. CT on September 2.
WHAT TO SAY
You don’t need to be a scientist or policy expert. Your personal story is what matters.
Tell lawmakers:
I am asking you to protect adult access to kratom and 7-OH and choose responsible regulation instead of Schedule I criminalization. I support keeping these products away from children and requiring testing, accurate labeling and responsible manufacturing. But a ban punishes responsible adults and pushes consumers toward an unregulated market. Please use the September 2 special session to replace prohibition with sensible, science-based regulation.
Even better: add 2–3 sentences explaining WHY access matters to you personally.
Consumers across the country have reported using 7-OH for reasons including managing pain and moving away from prescription opioids, illicit opioids or alcohol. These experiences deserve to be heard as lawmakers consider policies that could eliminate access.
NORTH DAKOTA CAN GET THIS RIGHT
This special session presents a simple choice:
Regulate responsibly or criminalize consumers.
North Dakota can protect young people. It can require testing. It can hold manufacturers accountable. It can establish sensible rules for kratom and 7-OH.
It does not need to turn responsible adults into criminals to accomplish any of those goals.
SEPTEMBER 2 IS OUR CHANCE TO CHANGE COURSE.
Tell North Dakota lawmakers: REGULATE KRATOM AND 7-OH. D
