North Dakota Legislature Convenes Special Session to Restrict Kratom and Synthetic Compound 7-OH

North Dakota lawmakers convened a special legislative session in Bismarck, beginning with public testimony, to consider restricting kratom and synthetic derivative compounds, including one known as 7-OH. This marked the second special session of the year for the North Dakota Legislature. Gov. Kelly Armstrong called the session specifically to address kratom and synthetic products, citing links to overdoses and deaths. Lawmakers considered multiple bills, including one that would restrict natural kratom sales to people 21 and older, and another that would prohibit synthetic kratom derivatives entirely. Republican majority leaders expressed hope to complete the session within three days. In addition to kratom regulation, legislators added other items to the agenda, including addressing a funding shortfall tied to a museum project. As of the reporting, the session was ongoing, with final legislative outcomes on the kratom and synthetic-compound bills not yet confirmed. It remains unresolved which specific version of the kratom restrictions, if any, will be enacted, and how the museum funding issue will ultimately be resolved. The full scope of additional agenda items considered during the session was not detailed consistently across reports.