New Jersey lawmakers have introduced a pair of bills to criminalize the manufacture, distribution, and possession of kratom under certain conditions.
Kratom products.
Senate Bill 3981, sponsored by State Senator Teresa Ruiz (D), and Assembly Bill 5129, introduced by Representative Alexander Schnall, were filed on December 16 and referred to their respective Judiciary Committees.
If enacted, the legislation, titled “CJ’s Law,” would categorize kratom as a controlled dangerous substance. Kratom, a plant native to Southeast Asia, has been used medicinally and therapeutically for thousands of years.
The bills propose penalties ranging from third-degree to second-degree crimes depending on the quantity involved. Possession or distribution of one ounce or more of kratom would be considered a second-degree offense, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $150,000 fine. Lesser amounts would result in third-degree charges, with penalties of up to five years in prison and a $15,000 fine. Exceptions are made for licensed practitioners conducting research or professional use.
The legislation highlights warnings issued by the FDA, which claims that kratom interacts with opioid brain receptors and poses risks of addiction, abuse, and dependence. Advocates of the bill cite numerous health concerns, including respiratory depression, hallucinations, and severe withdrawal symptoms. The measure also references a 2022 FDA statement emphasizing the substance’s potential dangers and unapproved medical use claims.
If passed, New Jersey would join six other states in banning kratom outright. The proposed legislation is the latest in a series of efforts nationwide to regulate or prohibit the substance.
