North Dakota Republican Gov. Kelly (AP Photo/Jack Dura)
NORTH DAKOTA – On “News and Views” North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong didn’t answer if someone he knows has been impacted by kratom as to why he called a special session for next month.
He gave this explanation:
“If you don’t get an emergency clause on any of these bills, they don’t go into effect until next August. If we’re going to take the step that the DEA is doing that the pharmaceutical board is recommending that we do, we cannot put everybody on the ground who is in charge of enforcing this in absolute legal limbo for a year,” Armstrong explained.
Armstrong believes synthetic kratom needs to be banned, natural kratom should be banned for those under age 21 and labeling needs to be correct.
Armstrong said he’ll evaluate a data center bill Dem-NPL State Senator Tim Mathern of Fargo said he’ll introduce during next month’s special session if it passes. It would restrict governments from entering into non-disclosure agreements with developers.
Armstrong believes the session should be focused on kratom.
“I think people should be a little careful when they start saying what is more important and time sensitive. One of these killing young adults in North Dakota. The other is not,” Armstrong said.
Armstrong said there’s only one way he would support a possible bill providing free school meals during the special session next month.
“If it was identical to the ballot measure, which I don’t think would ever get through the Legislature, then I’m not putting every school district through implementing a brand new program the second Tuesday of November,” Armstrong said.
Voters will decide a ballot measure that would put constitutionally mandated spending toward school meals in November.
Armstrong, a former defense attorney, shared his opposition to flock cameras saying it’s a public safety benefit to knowing where people are, but at a significant privacy cost.
“If you don’t have a policy in your department as who can utilize those things, it is just quite simply too easy and in human nature to abuse it knowing you’re not going to get caught,” Armstrong said. “At the very least, I think the debate should be what kind of restrictions go into place where who on a law enforcement department would every potentially be able to access that information.”
Flock cameras scan license plates providing law enforcement information like the vehicle’s make, model and other identifying characteristics.
Fargo Police say they’re integral in finding stolen vehicles and vehicles involved in crimes.
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