Kratom regulatory framework clears first round

Lawmakers advanced a bill from general file Feb. 27 that would regulate the sale of kratom products in Nebraska.

LB230, introduced by Syracuse Sen. Bob Hallstrom, would adopt the Kratom Consumer Protection Act and require kratom products sold in Nebraska to comply with federal and state manufacturing, packaging and label requirements.

The measure would prohibit the sale of kratom to anyone under 21 years of age, require online age-verification systems for e-commerce and ban the manufacture or sale of products aimed at children. Additionally, the measure would require kratom products to meet specific labeling requirements, including warnings about using the product during pregnancy or breastfeeding and a disclaimer stating that the product is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease.

Under the bill, the state Department of Revenue would be required to establish and oversee a registry of kratom products approved for sale in Nebraska, which would be available on the department’s website.

Hallstom said 24 million people in the U.S. regularly use kratom, an herbal substance from Southeast Asia that helps improve energy, focus and mood. However, he said, the market has seen a rise in synthetic kratom products, which are considered dangerous and are known to cause adverse health effects, including respiratory depression and addiction.

“My goal in introducing LB230 is to keep these untested and potentially dangerous products off of the market while allowing true, well-manufactured and well-labeled kratom products to remain in the market,” Hallstrom said. “This bill treads the line between protecting access to kratom and protecting consumers from bad actors who put unsafe products onto the market.”

Lawmakers voted 39-0 to adopt a Judiciary Committee amendment that made several technical changes to the bill, such as closing a loophole that could have allowed synthetic kratom products to go unregulated.

Sen. Wendy DeBoer of Bennington spoke in support of the bill, saying it would prevent synthetic kratom from capitalizing on the popularity and safety of the original product.

Omaha Sen. John Cavanaugh also supported the measure, saying he favors regulating the kratom industry rather than banning the product outright.

Lawmakers also adopted a technical amendment to the committee amendment offered by Hallstrom, and voted 39-0 to advance LB230 to select file.