ST. PAUL, MN. – On Thursday, the Minnesota Senate passed legislation co-authored by Senator Rob Kupec (DFL-Moorhead), increasing the legal age for possession and sales of Kratom in Minnesota from 18 to 21. The bill passed by a vote of 56 to 10.
“This is a smart approach to addressing the rising use of Kratom in our state and in aligning it with how we treat other substances like alcohol and cannabis,” said Sen. Kupec. “While many people rely on it in their daily lives, it has operated in a grey area that has the potential for it to be abused. Raising the age of possession and sales to 21 puts stronger safeguards in place for Minnesotans.”
Kratom comes from the leaves of an evergreen tree in Southeast Asia and can often be sold as an energy booster, mood lifter, pain reliever, and to manage opioid withdrawal. Kratom carries a risk of addiction, and while not illegal, there are no FDA-approved products containing kratom currently sold in the US, so consumers are taking risks with unregulated products. There are also concerns about concentrated or synthetic versions of kratom, which can mimic the effects of opioids.
