North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong issued an executive order barring the sale, use and possession of all kratom and kratom products, which were unregulated with no minimum age for purchase, in the state, effective Aug. 5.
The executive order declared a public health emergency involving kratom, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH, according to an Aug. 3 news release.
Separately, the North Dakota Board of Pharmacy issued an emergency rule that classifies 7-OH as a Schedule I controlled substance. The rule is valid for 180 days.
North Dakota has received reports of 50 deaths associated with kratom, 7-OH and/or pseudoindoxyl mitragynine since 2019. The substances were listed as part of the primary cause of death in 23 of those 50 cases, a contributing cause of death in one case and present in toxicology results in the other 26 cases.
Mr. Armstrong also called on the legislature to convene in special session Sept. 2 to address enactment of the emergency rule on 7-OH, place the prohibition on kratom into state law and address enforcement authority.
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