Gov. Armstrong announces special session, emergency actions to ban kratom in North Dakota

  • North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong speaks during a press conference after announcing actions to restrict kratom in North Dakota on Aug. 3, 2026. (Photo by Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)
    North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong speaks during a press conference after announcing actions to restrict kratom in North Dakota on Aug. 3, 2026. (Photo by Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)
  • North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley points at three packages of 7-OH tablets, a concentrated synthetic extract of kratom, after a press conference where Gov. Kelly Armstrong announced actions to restrict kratom in North Dakota on Aug. 3, 2026. (Photo by Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)
    North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley points at three packages of 7-OH tablets, a concentrated synthetic extract of kratom, after a press conference where Gov. Kelly Armstrong announced actions to restrict kratom in North Dakota on Aug. 3, 2026. (Photo by Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

    ‘Temporary patch’ for Military Gallery could also be addressed

    By Jack Dura and Michael Achterling, North Dakota Monitor North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong on Monday declared a public health emergency banning all kratom products and called a special session of the Legislature for September to cement a prohibition into state law.

    Kratom is a substance derived from a tropical tree in Southeast Asia tha…