Kratom Is Legal In Montana. Now That Could Be Changing

Montana Lawmakers Consider Whether To Regulate Or Ban Kratom

Montana lawmakers are taking a serious look at kratom, and there's a chance the stuff could become a lot harder to buy around the state.

For those unfamiliar, kratom comes from the leaves of a tree in Southeast Asia and can have both stimulant-like and opioid-like effects. It's legal in Montana right now, and you can find it in some stores and gas stations, but the question now in Helena is what Montana should actually do about it.

Montana Lawmakers Reject Proposed Kratom Regulation Bill

While some lawmakers want to ban it completely, others think it should be regulated, tested, and labeled so people actually know what they're buying.

The Daily Inter Lake reports that one proposed regulation bill was tabled by lawmakers Tuesday after an 8-1 vote. The bill would have banned synthetic kratom, required labeling and testing, and limited sales to people 18 and older.

Still, some lawmakers thought that wasn't going far enough.

Sen. Vince Ricci pointed out that alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco are all restricted to people 21 and older, while the proposed kratom rules would allow sales at 18.

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Doctors Warn Lawmakers They Still Don't Know Enough About Kratom

Doctors who spoke to lawmakers also raised concerns about addiction, withdrawal, and the fact that researchers still don't know enough about kratom's long-term effects. One pediatrician even described treating a newborn who experienced withdrawal after the baby's mother regularly used kratom during pregnancy.

Still, there are plenty of regular Montana residents who are defending it.

Some kratom users say it can be a cheaper alternative for people trying to get away from harder drugs, such as heroin or opioids, especially when traditional treatments like Suboxone or methadone aren't affordable or easy to access.

So while there seems to be some agreement that the current rules surrounding kratom need some work, the big question is whether lawmakers will regulate kratom or get rid of it altogether.