ARIZONA STATE SENATE

RESEARCH STAFF

ZACK DEAN

LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH ANALYST

JUDICIARY & ELECTIONS COMMITTEE

Telephone: (602) 926-3171

TO:                  MEMBERS OF THE SENATE

JUDICIARY & ELECTIONS COMMITTEE

DATE:            February 13, 2026

SUBJECT:      Strike everything amendment to S.B. 1285, relating to narcotic drugs; kratom

Purpose

            Effective September 1, 2027, adds kratom and other related compounds to the statutory list of narcotic drugs and repeals existing laws regulating kratom products.

Background

            A kratom product is a food product or dietary ingredient containing any part of the leaf of the plant mitragyna speciosa (A.R.S. § 36-795). Consumption of kratom leaves produces both stimulant effects in low doses and sedative effects in high doses. Kratom leaves contain two major psychoactive ingredients, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymytragynine. The leaves are crushed and then smoked, brewed with tea or placed into gel capsules for consumption (U.S. DEA).

Narcotic drugs are defined as a plethora of various drugs and drug compounds, whether of natural or synthetic origin and any substance neither chemically nor physically distinguishable from them (A.R.S. § 13-3401). A person may not knowingly: 1) possess or use a narcotic drug;
2) possess a narcotic drug for sale; 3) possess equipment or chemicals, or both, for the purpose of manufacturing a narcotic drug; 4) manufacture a narcotic drug; 5) administer a narcotic drug to another person; 6) obtain or procure the administration of a narcotic drug by fraud, deceit, misrepresentation or subterfuge; or 7) transport for sale, import, or offer to transport for sale or import, sell, transfer or offer to sell or transfer a narcotic drug (A.R.S. § 13-3408).

            There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.

Provisions

1. Adds the following substances to the statutory definition of narcotic drug:

a) kratom;

b) 7-hydroxymitragynine; and

c) mitragynine and any substance that is derived from the mitragyna speciosa plant.

2. Repeals all existing statute relating to the regulation of kratom products.

3. Makes conforming changes.

4. Becomes effective September 1, 2027.