Attorney General
Here's a look at documents from state attorneys general
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S.D. A.G. Jackley Awards Drug Control Funds to Pennington County Sheriff's Office, Box Elder Police Department for Drug Detection K-9s
PIERRE, South Dakota, May 12 -- South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley issued the following news release on May 11, 2026:
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Attorney General Jackley Awards Drug Control Funds to Pennington County Sheriff's Office, Box Elder Police Department for Drug Detection K-9s
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces that up to $60,000 from the Attorney General's Drug Control Fund has been awarded to the Pennington County Sheriff's Office for the purchase and training of two Drug Detection K-9s. The Box Elder Police Department also will receive up to $93,000 to create a Drug Detection
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PIERRE, South Dakota, May 12 -- South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley issued the following news release on May 11, 2026:
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Attorney General Jackley Awards Drug Control Funds to Pennington County Sheriff's Office, Box Elder Police Department for Drug Detection K-9s
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces that up to $60,000 from the Attorney General's Drug Control Fund has been awarded to the Pennington County Sheriff's Office for the purchase and training of two Drug Detection K-9s. The Box Elder Police Department also will receive up to $93,000 to create a Drug DetectionK-9 unit.
"These funds strengthen the ability of local law enforcement agencies to combat illegal drugs," said Attorney General Jackley. "By supporting our partners in Pennington County and Box Elder, the Attorney General's Office is taking a comprehensive approach to keeping our communities safe."
"Three additional K-9s is a force multiplier with the existing Rapid City Police K-9 program. Methamphetamine is the #1 driver of violence in our community. This is something we have wanted to do for some time," said Pennington County Sheriff Brian Mueller. "Enforcement alone will not solve the drug problem. As a community, we hope to receive additional opioid settlement dollars to help on the treatment and prevention fronts."
"Having this asset available within our own department will increase our efforts to eradicate illegal drugs in the City of Box Elder, Pennington County, and Meade County," said Box Elder Chief of Police Bob Connell. "We are grateful for the efforts of the Division of Criminal Investigation and the support from the South Dakota Attorney General's Office in helping make this program a reality."
"Police K-9s are invaluable assets to law enforcement," says Rapid City Police Chief Don Hedrick of his two trained K-9s. "Their presence alone can de-escalate tension and ensure safer outcomes. We take pride in our partnership with the Pennington County Sheriff's Office and look forward to strengthening our collaboration with the Box Elder Police Department to serve all residents of Pennington County."
The Attorney General's Drug Control Fund is supported by drug forfeiture monies and are to be used for drug control and apprehension purposes. So far this year, the fund has distributed $221,565.38 to seven law enforcement agencies statewide.
The K-9s and handlers for the two law enforcement agencies receiving the funds will be selected throughout the summer with training completion planned for early this fall.
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Original text here: https://atg.sd.gov/OurOffice/Media/pressreleasesdetail.aspx?id=3072
N.J. Gov. Sherrill Announces Nomination of Paul Thomas Urbish to Lead the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control
TRENTON, New Jersey, May 12 -- New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport issued the following news release on May 11, 2026:
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Governor Sherrill Announces Nomination of Paul Thomas Urbish to Lead the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control
Governor Mikie Sherrill and Attorney General Jennifer Davenport today announced the Governor's nomination of Paul Thomas Urbish, a director at the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC), to lead the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), as ABC prepares for events associated with upcoming World Cup matches.
An attorney who
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TRENTON, New Jersey, May 12 -- New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport issued the following news release on May 11, 2026:
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Governor Sherrill Announces Nomination of Paul Thomas Urbish to Lead the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control
Governor Mikie Sherrill and Attorney General Jennifer Davenport today announced the Governor's nomination of Paul Thomas Urbish, a director at the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC), to lead the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), as ABC prepares for events associated with upcoming World Cup matches.
An attorney whonow heads the CRC's Office of Compliance and Investigations, Urbish has worked in public service for approximately a decade, playing different roles in state government including at the Department of Community Affairs and ABC. He served as a deputy attorney general for ABC from 2018 to 2021, before taking a position with the CRC and rising to his present leadership role. If confirmed by the State Senate, Urbish would oversee the agency that regulates the production and sale of alcoholic beverages and enforces liquor laws.
Kirstin Krueger has been serving as Interim ABC Director since April 1, 2024. Kirstin has been in State service for seven years, first as Counsel to the Attorney General before joining ABC as Deputy Director.
"With his background in licensing, investigations, and regulating the products of New Jersey's burgeoning legal cannabis industry, and his experience with alcoholic beverage permitting and appeals, Paul understands the important balance between enabling businesses to thrive and ensuring compliance with guardrails and consumer safety," said Governor Sherrill. "His history of regulating and fostering a fledging industry will be an asset to the ABC, which similarly oversees a sector that is constantly undergoing transformation and forms a vital part of New Jersey's economy."
"As ABC continues to streamline processes and build an alcohol regulation system based in integrity, safety, and economic opportunity, we welcome Paul Urbish's exceptional leadership to balance the needs of industry while protecting residents. I look forward to him joining our leadership team at the Department of Law and Public Safety," said Attorney General Davenport. "I also want to express my deep gratitude to Kirstin Krueger for her service as Interim ABC Director. Kirstin came into the role after major legislative changes were enacted and, among other accomplishments, has ensured an effective framework for the variety of events associated with the World Cup."
"I'm grateful to Governor Sherrill for the opportunity to rejoin ABC and I'm excited to work with Attorney General Davenport and the ABC team," said Paul Urbish. "I look forward to working diligently to protect residents, ensure that local businesses are operated lawfully and responsibly, and that our businesses have the necessary flexibility to accommodate an unprecedented wave of tourism this summer."
As the director of the CRC's Office of Compliance and Investigations, Urbish oversees the regulation and investigation of cultivators, manufacturers, distributors, testing labs, and dispensaries.
Prior to joining the CRC, he was a Deputy Attorney General at ABC, where he provided legal interpretations regarding matters including appeals from municipal action, applications for permits, and municipal ordinance review.
Urbish received his bachelor of arts in history from the College of New Jersey and his juris doctor from Temple University's James E. Beasley School of Law.
ABC regulates the manufacture, distribution, sale, and transportation of all alcoholic beverages in New Jersey. ABC's statutory mission is to regulate and control the alcoholic beverage industry in order to foster moderation and responsibility in consumption of alcoholic beverages, to protect the citizens of New Jersey by assuring lawful, proper, and fair trade practices to maintain the stability of the industry, and protect the collection of state taxes imposed on alcoholic beverages.
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Original text here: https://www.njoag.gov/governor-sherrill-announces-nomination-of-paul-thomas-urbish-to-lead-the-division-of-alcoholic-beverage-control/
N.J. A.G. Davenport, Office of Alternative and Community Responses Launch Gun-Safety Public Awareness Campaign
TRENTON, New Jersey, May 12 -- New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport issued the following news release on May 11, 2026:
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Attorney General Davenport, Office of Alternative and Community Responses Launch Gun-Safety Public Awareness Campaign
Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and the Office of Alternative and Community Responses today announced the launch of a multi-year public awareness campaign to raise awareness about the life-saving potential of New Jersey's Extreme Risk Protective Order (ERPO) law that allows for the temporary removal of firearms from individuals who pose a
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TRENTON, New Jersey, May 12 -- New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport issued the following news release on May 11, 2026:
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Attorney General Davenport, Office of Alternative and Community Responses Launch Gun-Safety Public Awareness Campaign
Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and the Office of Alternative and Community Responses today announced the launch of a multi-year public awareness campaign to raise awareness about the life-saving potential of New Jersey's Extreme Risk Protective Order (ERPO) law that allows for the temporary removal of firearms from individuals who pose adanger of causing bodily harm to themselves or others. New Jersey's ERPO Act of 2018 serves as a mechanism to seek the temporary suspension of firearms access for at-risk individuals.
An ERPO temporarily prohibits a person from possessing or buying guns or ammunition. A person with an ERPO also may not possess a firearms purchaser identification card, a permit to purchase a handgun, or a permit to carry a handgun. By temporarily removing an individual's access to firearms, ERPOs work to protect not only the individual, but also the general public. To date, similar laws aimed at reducing gun deaths - also referred to as "red flag laws" - have been enacted in 22 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
"ERPOs are a proven tool for preventing tragedies. We're committed to using all tools at our disposal to end gun violence in New Jersey," said Attorney General Davenport. "Anyone can take this simple, proactive step to stop gun-related deaths. With the campaign we're announcing today, we hope to make ERPOs as recognizable as domestic violence restraining orders. We want everyone to be able to recognize when an ERPO might be needed and then feel empowered to request one."
"Obtaining an ERPO can mean the difference between life and death, but that can only happen when people know they exist and understand how to use them," said Tiffany Wilson, OACR Director. "With this campaign, we will increase awareness and correct any misunderstandings about New Jersey's ERPO law."
The campaign will focus on educating the public about ERPOs, identifying available resources, and dispelling popular myths and misconceptions about the law. The initial roll-out across various digital and social platforms will appear in both English and Spanish and is designed to amplify ERPO awareness leading up to National Gun Violence Awareness Month in June. The second phase of the campaign will include messaging on billboards and bus shelters, on the radio, and in video format. This phase will also expand the social and digital content to include seven additional languages. A dedicated ERPO website, which features content and messaging from the campaign, will serve as a "one-stop shop" to help the public more easily understand New Jersey-specific ERPO information, address common myths about ERPOs, and answer frequently asked questions. A brief survey on the website will assess increased ERPO awareness.
ERPOs are court orders judges may issue after carefully reviewing individual circumstances. Prompted by a petition filed by a relative, household member, or law enforcement officer, an ERPO is issued only after several factors have been considered, including whether the respondent has been arrested, charged, or convicted of any violent indictable crime or disorderly-persons offense, stalking offense, or domestic violence offense. Other considerations include whether the individual has a history of threatening or committing acts of violence, has a history of use or threat of physical force, is subject to any protective orders, and whether they have violated any such orders.
This work is being made possible by a competitive grant award from the "Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program" (SCIP) Grant which is administered through the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance. The SCIP grant provides funding to implement state crisis intervention court proceedings and related programs or initiatives, including ERPO programs. This funding will allow for the implementation of statewide coordinated strategies for ERPOs with other offices and Divisions within the Department of Law and Public Safety, County Prosecutor's offices, the Administrative Offices of the Courts, community groups, and stakeholders. Through SCIP, OACR is making a total of $2,186,043 in funding available to County Prosecutor's offices. Funding will also be made available to the Administrative Offices of the Courts and non-profit community groups.
Extreme Risk Protective Order Website (https://www.njoag.gov/erpo/)
ERPO Public Awareness Campaign Image 1 (http://www.njoag.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ERPO-campaign-image-1.jpg) | Image 2 (http://www.njoag.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ERPO-campaign-image-2.jpg) | Image 3 (http://www.njoag.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ERPO-campaign-image-3.jpg) | Image 4 (http://www.njoag.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ERPO-campaign-image-4.jpg)
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The Office of Alternative and Community Responses (OACR) supports, coordinates, and creates strategies and collaborations aimed at creating better outcomes in situations where public health and public safety intersect. By incorporating mental and behavioral health interventions, implementing innovative approaches, collaborating with communities, and promoting the well-being of law enforcement officers, OACR is working to build a safer, healthier New Jersey.
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Original text here: https://www.njoag.gov/attorney-general-davenport-office-of-alternative-and-community-responses-launch-gun-safety-public-awareness-campaign/
Md. A.G. Brown Announces Guilty Verdict for Baltimore County Financial Advisor Who Committed Felony Insurance Fraud
BALTIMORE, Maryland, May 12 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release on May 11, 2026:
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Attorney General Brown Announces Guilty Verdict for Baltimore County Financial Advisor who Committed Felony Insurance Fraud
Jury Convicted the Same Defendant of Insurance Fraud and Obstruction of Justice in Separate 2025 Case
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Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced today that a Baltimore County jury found Michael C. Okolo, 68, of Parkville, Maryland, guilty of 10 felony counts of insurance fraud by acting as an insurance agent without a license.
The jury
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BALTIMORE, Maryland, May 12 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release on May 11, 2026:
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Attorney General Brown Announces Guilty Verdict for Baltimore County Financial Advisor who Committed Felony Insurance Fraud
Jury Convicted the Same Defendant of Insurance Fraud and Obstruction of Justice in Separate 2025 Case
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Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced today that a Baltimore County jury found Michael C. Okolo, 68, of Parkville, Maryland, guilty of 10 felony counts of insurance fraud by acting as an insurance agent without a license.
The juryfound that Okolo acted as an insurance agent without a license by selling annuity policies on 10 occasions from 2021 to 2024, pocketing more than $88,000 in commissions, all of which were sold after the Maryland Insurance Administration (MIA) revoked Okolo's license in 2019 for misappropriating premium payments. After Okolo's license had been revoked, he set up another business, Wise Money Group, and recruited another licensed agent to sign annuity applications for policies that Okolo sold.
"Michael Okolo lost his license for stealing from a client, and instead of accepting the consequences of his crime, he continued to exploit those who trusted him with their financial futures," said Attorney General Brown. "This second guilty verdict makes clear that our Office will pursue financial predators through every case, every charge, and every count until they are held fully accountable for defrauding Marylanders of their hard-earned money."
"Marylanders deserve to know that those who exploit consumers and violate our insurance laws will be held accountable," said Maryland Insurance Commissioner Marie Grant. "This conviction sends a clear message that this kind of fraudulent conduct will not be tolerated. The Maryland Insurance Administration was proud to work with Attorney General Brown and his team on this case."
In December 2025, Okolo was tried and convicted in a separate case. The jury in that case found that Okolo misappropriated $36,500 he received from a client, depositing it into his business account, and using the money for personal and business expenses. The jury also found that while the matter was pending, Okolo obstructed justice by creating a fake letter purporting to be from that client and copying and pasting the client's signature from a genuine document. In January 2026, he was sentenced to six months of active incarceration for two counts of insurance fraud and obstruction of justice.
Okolo will be sentenced by the Honorable Michael Barranco on July 29, 2026, in the Circuit Court for Baltimore County.
In making today's announcement, Attorney General Brown thanked his Criminal Division, specifically Division Chief Katie Dorian, Fraud and Corruption Unit Chief Alex Huggins, and Assistant Attorneys General Michelle Martin and William Elman, who prosecuted these cases. Attorney General Brown also thanked the Maryland Insurance Administration for their assistance with this investigation. Finally, Attorney General Brown thanked State's Attorney for Baltimore County Scott Shellenberger for his assistance with this investigation and prosecution.
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Original text here: https://oag.maryland.gov/News/pages/Attorney-General-Brown-Announces-Guilty-Verdict-for-Baltimore-County-Financial-Advisor%c2%a0who%c2%a0Committed%c2%a0FelonyInsurance-Fraud.aspx
Del. A.G. Jennings Takes Storm-Chasing Home Improvement Company to Court Over Failure to Respond to Subpoena
DOVER, Delaware, May 12 -- Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings issued the following news release on May 11, 2026:
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AG Jennings takes storm-chasing home improvement company to court over failure to respond to subpoena
Attorney General Kathy Jennings, through her Consumer Protection Unit, has filed a motion asking the Superior Court to enforce a subpoena against Mastercraft Contracting, LLC ("Mastercraft"), a home improvement contractor that has had multiple consumer complaints filed against it.
After nearly three months, Mastercraft has failed to substantively respond to the subpoena.
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DOVER, Delaware, May 12 -- Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings issued the following news release on May 11, 2026:
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AG Jennings takes storm-chasing home improvement company to court over failure to respond to subpoena
Attorney General Kathy Jennings, through her Consumer Protection Unit, has filed a motion asking the Superior Court to enforce a subpoena against Mastercraft Contracting, LLC ("Mastercraft"), a home improvement contractor that has had multiple consumer complaints filed against it.
After nearly three months, Mastercraft has failed to substantively respond to the subpoena.This comes after Mastercraft was previously ordered by the Superior Court in 2025 to respond to a similar CPU subpoena.
After receiving and reviewing documents responsive to the 2025 court order, CPU sent this subpoena seeking additional documents in early 2026 as part of the next phase of CPU's investigation.
The DOJ is investigating whether Mastercraft has violated Delaware's consumer protection laws after receiving complaints that Mastercraft targets homeowners that have recently experienced significant storms and uses misleading door-to-door sales and time tactics to sell its roofing and construction services.
"Consumers should never be strong-armed into paying for services or be made victim to frivolous, extortionate lawsuits," said Attorney General Jennings. "We're asking the Court to step in so that that our Consumer Protection Unit can continue to do its critical work investigating these predatory practices."
According to an affidavit filed with CPU's motion, CPU has received multiple consumer complaints about Mastercraft business practices, including that Mastercraft used aggressive and targeted door-to-door sales practices to engage consumers, represented that consumers were signing only to authorize a free inspection when the documents were actually contracts, and then threatened excessive liquidated damages in the amount of one third of the contract price when consumers decided not to use Mastercraft, including by filing lawsuits with Delaware's Justice of the Peace Court.
Mastercraft advertised "free inspections" to consumers, who were told by Mastercraft that they must sign a document to authorize the free inspection. The document, however, is actually a contract that purportedly entitles Mastercraft to "liquidated damages" of one third of the contract price should the consumer decide not to use Mastercraft.
In an effort to enforce that clause, Mastercraft filed numerous lawsuits against consumers; many of these lawsuits have been dismissed by Delaware courts with the clause being found to constitute an unenforceable penalty.
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Original text here: https://news.delaware.gov/2026/05/11/ag-jennings-takes-storm-chasing-home-improvement-company-to-court-over-failure-to-respond-to-subpoena/
A.G. Drummond Files Lawsuit Against Temu for Stealing Oklahomans' Data and Deceiving Consumers
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, May 12 -- Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued the following news release on May 11, 2026:
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Drummond files lawsuit against Temu for stealing Oklahomans' data and deceiving consumers
Attorney General Gentner Drummond has filed a lawsuit against Temu, the Chinese online shopping platform, for unlawful data collection, violations of customers' privacy and the counterfeiting of some of Oklahoma's most iconic brands.
The lawsuit, filed last Wednesday in Cleveland County District Court, alleges Temu engaged in deceptive and unlawful business practices designed
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OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, May 12 -- Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued the following news release on May 11, 2026:
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Drummond files lawsuit against Temu for stealing Oklahomans' data and deceiving consumers
Attorney General Gentner Drummond has filed a lawsuit against Temu, the Chinese online shopping platform, for unlawful data collection, violations of customers' privacy and the counterfeiting of some of Oklahoma's most iconic brands.
The lawsuit, filed last Wednesday in Cleveland County District Court, alleges Temu engaged in deceptive and unlawful business practices designedto mislead consumers while secretly harvesting sensitive user data for the benefit of entities tied to the Chinese Communist Party.
The complaint alleges that Temu:
* Illegally collects users' data without their knowledge and consent;
* Steals the intellectual property of U.S.-owned companies and institutions, including the Oklahoma City Thunder, Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma;
* Uses bait and switch signup schemes to lure users to invite their friends to the app in exchange for the promise of prizes and rewards that never arrive; and
* Fails to disclose to consumers its use of forced labor from Chinese ethnic minorities in clear violation of U.S. trade policies.
Drummond emphasized that Oklahomans should not have to trade their privacy and security for lower-priced products.
"Temu built its business model on deception, exploiting consumers while undermining American companies and exposing users to serious privacy risks," Drummond said. "My office will not stand by while companies illegally profit from Oklahomans' personal data and deceive consumers."
Temu's mobile app rose in popularity to become the most-downloaded shopping app in the United States in 2023 on both Apple iOS and Google Android operating systems. The lawsuit details how the app secretly infiltrates users' devices to access and harvest sensitive information including the user's precise physical location, the phone's microphone and camera, and the user's private activity on other apps installed on the phone, all without their knowledge or consent.
"Oklahomans have a right to know when their personal information is being exploited and potentially funneled into the hands of a company with direct ties to Communist China," Drummond said. "This lawsuit sends a clear message that Oklahoma will not tolerate companies using deceptive technology to spy on consumers and profit from stolen data."
Read the Lawsuit (https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/oag/news-documents/2026/may/2026-05-06%20Filed%20Petition%20rdk.pdf)
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Original text here: https://oklahoma.gov/oag/news/newsroom/2026/may/drummond-files-lawsuit-against-temu-for-stealing-oklahomans-data-and-deceiving-consumers.html
Utah Defeats Challenge to Kratom Law
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, May 12 -- Utah Attorney General Derek Brown issued the following news on May 11, 2026:
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Utah defeats challenge to kratom law
A federal court on May 4 rejected an attempt by a kratom manufacturer and industry group to block Utah's new kratom regulation law, clearing the way for the law to take effect on May 6.
U.S. District Judge Howard C. Nielson Jr. denied a request from Botanic Tonics, LLC and the Global Kratom Coalition to stop enforcement of Utah's Kratom Regulation Act, which bans the sale of kratom products mixed with other substances, including combination
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SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, May 12 -- Utah Attorney General Derek Brown issued the following news on May 11, 2026:
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Utah defeats challenge to kratom law
A federal court on May 4 rejected an attempt by a kratom manufacturer and industry group to block Utah's new kratom regulation law, clearing the way for the law to take effect on May 6.
U.S. District Judge Howard C. Nielson Jr. denied a request from Botanic Tonics, LLC and the Global Kratom Coalition to stop enforcement of Utah's Kratom Regulation Act, which bans the sale of kratom products mixed with other substances, including combinationdrinks like "feel free" sold across the state. The plaintiffs argued that federal law overrides Utah's statute. The court disagreed, finding that states retain the power to ban specific products within their borders.
"Stores across Utah were selling kratom mixed with other substances, with no real regulation and no real accountability. The Legislature said enough. We defended that decision in court and we won," said Attorney General Derek Brown.
Kratom, a plant-based substance, has been marketed to consumers as a stimulant, pain reliever, and more. When mixed with other compounds in commercial drinks and supplements, the combined products create potency and safety risks. The Legislature passed the measure to close gaps in oversight that allowed manufacturers to sell these products without real accountability for their contents or effects.
The law took effect on May 6. The plaintiffs filed an appeal with the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit on May 5, but the law will remain in effect during litigation. The Office of the Utah Attorney General will continue defending the law in court.
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Original text here: https://attorneygeneral.utah.gov/utah-defeats-challenge-to-kratom-law/
