Lincoln, Nebraska – A battle is brewing in the heartland over the fate of kratom, a controversial plant around the globe. Here in Nebraska’s unique unicameral legislature, two starkly different bills have been introduced, leaving the future of kratom hanging in the balance.
Senator Loren Lippincott, a staunch conservative Republican, has put forward a bill that would impose an outright ban on kratom, placing it in the same category as Schedule I narcotics like heroin and LSD. Lippincott’s bill, LB 431, has been met with fierce opposition from advocates who argue that kratom offers a safe alternative for those seeking pain relief and a way to manage opioid withdrawal symptoms.
“Criminalizing kratom would be a devastating blow to those who rely on it,” says Sarah Linden, owner of a local health store that sells kratom products. “We’ve seen firsthand how it can help people struggling with chronic pain and addiction.”
Countering Lippincott’s prohibitionist approach is LB 230, the Kratom Consumer Protection Act, which seeks to regulate the sale and distribution of kratom. This bill, introduced on January 14, 2025, would impose strict guidelines on kratom products, including age restrictions, packaging requirements, and labeling standards, ensuring consumer safety while allowing access to the substance.
The two bills currently sit before the Judiciary Committee, where lawmakers are grappling with the complexities of kratom’s potential benefits and risks. Nebraska’s nonpartisan legislature, a rarity in American politics, adds another layer of intrigue to the debate. With no party affiliations on the ballot, senators are theoretically free from partisan pressures, allowing for a more independent and collaborative decision-making process.
However, the kratom debate has exposed deep divisions within the legislature. While some senators express concerns about the lack of scientific research on kratom’s long-term effects, others emphasize the need for compassionate solutions to the opioid crisis.
As the Judiciary Committee deliberates, the fate of kratom in Nebraska remains uncertain. This battleground state, known for its pragmatic approach to governance, now finds itself at the forefront of a national debate over the future of this controversial plant. The decision made here could set a precedent for other states grappling with the same issue, making Nebraska a key player in the evolving story of kratom in America.
Nebraskan here. I’m very worried given the political history of the players seeking to ban kratom outright. AG Mike Hilgers is a joke of an attorney general. The Nebraska Supreme Court is also a complete joke. We the people voted for medical cannabis 4 years ago, with 70% support, the attorney general and supreme court vetoed the bill and wishes of the people on a sketchy legal technicality. Then two years ago made the signature gathering process too difficult for activists, and succeeded in keeping cannabis off the ballot. Then they tried again this year to keep medical cannabis off the ballot, by claiming forgeries on the signature gathering process. Thankfully, this attempt by Mike Hilgers was struck down in the courts. The people voted once again with 70% approval and Mike Hilgers launched a lawsuit against the wishes of the people but ultimately lost in the courts. Thankfully, it didn’t make it to the supreme court because they lost so soundly. But he won’t stop on his warpath against people’s rights to natural medicines. Now, he’s going after the massive delta-8 thc market, that he is responsible for creating with his campaign to keep natural cannabis illegal. These people feel entitled to push their social and religious beliefs on the public with no consideration of how we voted. Now we are flooded with strange cannabinoid products that are landing kids in the hospital. Plus, with the introduction of 7OH into the market, kids are now showing up at the hospital due to these metabolite research chems, and the legislature thinks it’s kratom. They don’t know the difference between a naturally occurring alkaloid and a metabolite research chem. We are governed by idiots here in Nebraska, and it worries me to be a national front-runner on anything. But, thanks for letting me vent. I just want folks to know how badly AG Mike Hilgers and the Nebraska Supreme Court have treated the people of Nerbaska. And now I’ll get back to thinking positive. The American Kratom Association is active in the process and there is still hope that the consumer protection act will gain footing. There are a few Nebraska senators who are logical and are also trying to spread some facts and common sense on the topic. We can still do this for all the folks with chronic pain just trying to work and build a life and stay off the nasty pharmaceutical opiates.