New Hampshire lawmakers overhauled a bill on Tuesday that would crack down on kratom, a widely available herbal supplement sometimes called “gas station heroin.” If passed, the legislation could eliminate roughly 75% of the state’s current legal kratom market.
Kratom can be natural or synthetic. In low doses, it acts as a stimulant. In higher doses, it can mimic the effects of opioids. That dual nature has raised growing concerns about dependency, abuse, and public safety.
“Kratom is a problem, not only in New Hampshire, but across the United States,” said state Rep. Nancy Murphy, a Democrat from Merrimack. “We know that it impacts public health, highway safety, and leads to addiction.”
What the bill would do
On Tuesday, lawmakers amended an existing Senate bill to target kratom through the state’s Liquor Commission. Under the revised version, the commission would enforce a prohibition on kratom at the businesses it regulates.
The approach is narrower than the original legislation, which went further. Still, the Liquor Commission estimates this version would knock out about three-quarters of the existing legal market.
State Rep. Alissandra Murray, a Democrat from Manchester, acknowledged the concern kratom is causing in communities but drew a line at going too far. “If we’re going to talk about scheduling new drugs, that’s definitely not something I support,” she said.
Others were less cautious. State Rep. Richard Lascelles, a Republican from Litchfield, pushed for immediate action — even if the bill isn’t perfect. “I think we need to get rid of this stuff now,” he said.
The bill won’t end kratom sales entirely
Lawmakers recognize the legislation has limits. It won’t eliminate all kratom sales in the state. Instead, they’re hoping the federal government will eventually step in with a national solution.
State Rep. Terry Roy, a Republican from Deerfield, didn’t mince words. “The federal government needs to get off its keester and fix this problem,” he said. “This isn’t our problem, it’s a nationwide problem, and the FDA should have taken care of this a long time ago.”
For now, the bill represents the most significant state-level effort to restrict kratom in New Hampshire. Communities across the state have been raising alarms about the substance’s impact — and lawmakers are finally responding, even if incrementally.
