FARGO, (KFGO) – Kratom and 7-OH can be found at smoke shops and other stores around the metro, but lawmakers in North Dakota are discussing the potential for regulating or even banning sales.
“Clarification is one of the big things. If people are confused that it’s regulated in some states, and not in others. What are the ingredients in it that are making it dangerous? Some sort of clarification or regulation I think is necessary,” West Fargo Police Captain Randy Burkhartsmeier said.
The North Dakota Republican Party is discussing a special session based in part on an interest in regulating kratom.
It’s an opioid-related ingredient being added to consumables that’s gaining popularity across the nation.
Proponents of regulation argue that kratom can be addictive, and that ingredients in the products are not properly disclosed.
A Store manager with Northland Vapor told us.
He says they focus on kratom as a healing tool.
“Kratom is a very effective alternative for people to get off of more harmful substances, with the end goal of weaning off completely.”
West Fargo Police echoed those concerns about the unregulated market.
“The potency, the sources, is it pure kratom or has it been manipulated or altered by whoever made it? And then the doses, and the side effects from the doses. It’s all just a wide range of side effects,” Burkhartsmeier said.
But Northland Vapor says they are concerned with a potential ban harming their customers who use Kratom to treat their pain
“I feel like measures that would go to ban all types of kratom would do more harm than good,” they said. “My biggest fear is they’re going to try to find things back on the street that mimic what traditional pain killers do.”
Governor Armstrong declined an interview, and he has no statement at this time.
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