In a proactive move to bypass potential FDA regulation, the American Kratom Association (AKA) is rallying for legislative support.

The AKA recently hosted an instructional webinar urging kratom users and vendors to contact their congressional representatives in favor of new legislation. The bill, co-sponsored by Republican Senator Mike Lee and Democratic Senator Cory Booker, aims to legalize kratom importation and establish a “Kratom Research Task Force.” This task force would be responsible for investigating the benefits and drawbacks of kratom within 90 days of the law’s enactment.

The AKA argues that the FDA’s current stance on kratom is based on “disinformation” and aims to correct this through legislative means.

For more details, read the full article on Courthouse News.

In a move that has caught the attention of both advocates and skeptics, Congress is considering a bill aimed at regulating kratom, a controversial herbal substance. The proposed Kratom Consumer Protection Act has bipartisan support and was recently filed in both the House and Senate. The legislation aims to:

• Prevent the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from treating kratom as an “adulterated dietary supplement.”
• Establish a kratom task force to investigate the plant’s health claims.
• Require the task force to hold a public hearing and deliver quarterly updates to Congress for two years.

Kratom, which is available in various forms including powder and extract, is often touted as a natural pain reliever. However, its efficacy and safety are still subjects of debate. While some see it as a tool for treating opioid use disorder, others point to injuries and deaths linked to its use as a reason for more stringent regulation.

In a noteworthy development, members of the U.S. Congress from both political parties have come together to propose a fresh piece of legislation focused on overseeing the use of kratom across the nation.

The newly introduced Kratom Consumer Protection Act is gaining traction and is expected to receive bipartisan backing. The bill is spearheaded by Republican Senator Mike Lee and is anticipated to be co-endorsed by Democratic Senator Cory Booker. The legislation aims to create a regulated market for kratom, ensuring that products are both safe and adequately labeled for consumer use. Mac Haddow, a leading policy expert for the American Kratom Association, highlighted the urgency of shielding consumers from a kratom market that currently lacks regulation and is prone to product adulteration. The proposed law also mandates the FDA to further scrutinize kratom’s health and safety profile, while preventing the agency from enforcing regulations that are more stringent than those applicable to food or dietary supplements.

For the original story, visit Marijuana Moment.

In a move that could change the landscape of herbal supplements, Indiana is on the verge of legalizing kratom, a natural painkiller and energy booster. House Bill 1500, led by Rep. Alan Morrison, aims to permit the sale of this herbal extract, which comes from a tropical evergreen tree native to Southeast Asia. The bill recently advanced from the House with bipartisan support and is now headed to the Senate.

The legislation comes after kratom was banned in Indiana in 2014, in anticipation of federal action that never materialized. Currently, kratom is classified as a Schedule 1 narcotic in the state, alongside substances like heroin and cocaine. Advocates argue that kratom can help with chronic pain and substance abuse withdrawal, while critics caution about its addictive properties.

For the full story, visit Indiana Capital Chronicle.

A proposed bill in Wisconsin is aiming to legalize Kratom, a herbal supplement currently illegal in the state. The bill has been put on the agenda by Assembly Republicans and is sparking both debate and hope among various stakeholders. While the specifics of the bill are not available, it’s clear that the move could have significant implications for both consumers and regulators. The proposal is likely to stir conversations around the safety, efficacy, and regulation of Kratom, as lawmakers weigh the potential benefits against any risks.

For more details, you can read the full article here.

In a recent development, a group of Republican lawmakers in Wisconsin is reigniting the debate over the legalization of kratom, a plant-based substance often used for pain relief and opioid withdrawal.

Spearheaded by Rep. Dave Murphy and backed by the American Kratom Association, the bill, known as AB 393, aims to legalize and regulate kratom in the state. This comes after a similar bill faced united opposition from law enforcement groups and was struck down in 2021.

Interestingly, at least one law enforcement group, the State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police, has shifted its stance from opposition to neutrality. The group’s president, Ryan Windorff, stated that kratom-related crimes are rare and that the issue should be left to healthcare experts and lawmakers. Both Rep. Murphy and bill co-sponsor Sen. Rachael Cabral-Guevera expressed optimism about bipartisan support for the current bill, signaling a potential turning point in the kratom legalization debate in Wisconsin.

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – Zachary is next on the list to ban kratom products in Louisiana.

Kratom, an herbal product from a tree in southeast Asia, has become quite prevalent in the United States. You can crush it, use it in tea, or take it as a supplement.

State Representative Gabe Firment and other lawmakers attempted to ban the product statewide but will now leave that up to city governments. Their fight against kratom is based on its opioid and stimulant-like effects.

“You know it’s becoming fairly widespread, and it’s also being abused and has proven to be quite dangerous,” Rep. Gabe Firment said.

Most recently, councilmembers in Zachary adopted an ordinance to ban the sale and possession of kratom products in that area.

“This doesn’t make any sense that they are going to criminalize people when this is a safe product when used responsibly,” Haddow said.

Keep reading at wafb.com

A new bill introduced this week would legalize kratom, a stimulant made from the leaves of a tree native to Southeast Asia. A similar bill failed to pass in 2022, but the bill’s Republican authors are back at it. And if you’ve been on the edge of your seat waiting for Wisconsin lawmakers to legalize marijuana, you should also be paying attention to the story of this lesser-known medicinal plant.

Kratom most often takes the form of a powder, capsule, or tea that is derived from the leaves of a tree native to Southeast Asia where it is used in herbal medicine. People use kratom for its stimulant-like effects, mood enhancement, and pain relief. 

On Tuesday, a group of Republican lawmakers introduced Assembly Bill 393, which would legalize the manufacture, distribution, delivery, and possession of kratom. 

Read more at WortFM

From Washington, D.C., via News21AM -— The American Kratom Association (AKA) issued another Consumer Advisory in response to recent wrongful death jury awards in Florida and elsewhere:

1. The American Kratom Association urges the Food and Drug Administration to immediately publish product manufacturing standards for kratom products that are sold to consumers and encourages the removal of kratom products that do not contain adequate labeling with recommended serving sizes, product ingredients and appropriate warnings on conditions of use.

2. Until the FDA implements a set of standards to protect consumers, the AKA advises kratom consumers not to purchase or consume kratom products that:

a. Have not been certified by an independent third-party lab to be free of dangerous contaminants or that contain adulterants that could be dangerous to consume.

Read the full story at the City Sentinel

Zachary officials want to ban kratom in the city, citing concerns about the potential hazards associated with the controversial herbal substance.

The City Council unanimously introduced an ordinance prohibiting the sale and possession of kratom during its Aug. 22 meeting. If formally adopted at the council’s next meeting on Sept. 12, people caught with kratom in Zachary could face fines and jail time.

“This substance does not belong in our city,” said Council member Ambre DeVirgilio, who spearheaded the ordinance.

Kratom is the common name for a substance made from the leaves of Mitragyna speciosa, a tree native to Southeast Asia and a relative of the coffee plant. It can produce stimulant and euphoric effects.

“The DEA classifies kratom as a chemical of concern,“ DeVirgilio said. “The FDA has ruled that it has no medical use or benefit.”

Read more at The Advocate

As federal lawmakers prepare to reintroduce a bill to regulate kratom, a former Trump administration drug czar stressed the need to beat back “misinformation” from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which has attempted to ban the substance in the U.S. and abroad.

Members of the American Kratom Association (AKA) said during a webinar Tuesday that they expect federal legislation to regulate the drug “will be filed shortly” in Congress and could be taken up later this session.

The text of the forthcoming bill “will be word-for-word the same” as congressional legislation introduced last session, said Mac Haddow, a senior fellow at AKA. The title, however, will be updated to the Kratom Consumer Protection Act, a nod to model legislation that AKA has been lobbying for at the state and federal levels.

Read more at Marijuana Moment

A few years ago, government agencies were debating how to handle kratom, a substance made from the leaves of a Southeast Asian tree, which was being used by millions of Americans for everything from pain relief to stress management. However, since then, efforts to regulate or ban kratom have largely fizzled.

In 2016, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced plans to make kratom a Schedule I drug, putting it in the same category as heroin and LSD. HHS initially issued a letter in support, which they later rescinded after public outcry. The DEA then changed course a few months later, though it still includes kratom in their Drugs of Abuse resource guide.

Read more at MedPage Today

The House Committee on Finance has given a favorable report to House Bill 563, allowing it to be referred to the Rules, Calendar, and Operations Committee (RCOC), the last step before it can be considered by the full House of Representatives. The RCOC held a public hearing on the measure this morning.

According to its official summary, the measure would:

• Regulate the sale and distribution of hemp-derived consumable products and kratom products.
• Require a license to sell, distribute, or manufacture hemp-derived consumable products and kratom products.
• Ban hemp-derived consumable products from school grounds.

The bill states that “Kratom is a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia whose leaves contain two psychoactive ingredients, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymytragynine. The crushed leaves are generally smoked, brewed with tea, or placed into gel capsules.”

Keep reading at The Marijuana Herald

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (KMOV) – More than 1.7 million Americans used the plant-extract kratom in 2021, according to surveys, but many are now concerned about the drug’s use and wide availability.

The American Kratom Association recently issued a consumer advisory about companies that don’t follow its standards.

The advisory followed reports of a Florida woman who died as a result of taking a product that didn’t follow the association’s standards.

Kratom is an extract from a plant called mitragyna speciosa from southeast Asia, a relative of the coffee plant.

It contains “mitragynine,” which, in lower doses, can combat fatigue and increase focus.

In higher doses, doctors say, the drug can act like a narcotic, activating the same receptors that opioids do. In fact, one of its common uses is to alleviate opioid withdrawal.

There is a risk of side effects, including liver toxicity, seizures, respiratory failure and substance use disorder.

Read more at KMOV4

Like alcohol, cigarettes and lottery tickets, kratom is now another age-restricted product in Florida.

Gov. Ron DeSantis last month signed a bill where products containing the plant Mitragyna speciosa can only be sold or given to people older than 21. The law went into effect July 1. 

Kratom is from Southeast Asia and is part of the coffee family. The leaves contain two psychoactive ingredients. Consuming kratom in small amounts can lead to a stimulant effect, and in larger amounts, it acts as a sedative.

The plant’s effects are felt by consuming capsules or an extract, brewing it in a tea or by chewing on its leaves.

Read more at Detroit Free Press

Washington D.C.—The American Kratom Association (AKA) is raising awareness about efforts to safeguard the millions of Americans who use kratom products. The consumer protection group is working to:

• prevent criminalization
• enact proactive legislation to protect the rights of kratom consumers
• ensure that consumers have access to safe products

About kratom

“Kratom is a plant native to Southeast Asia that has been used for centuries to help people improve their health and well-being,” said Mac Haddow, AKA Senior Fellow on Public Policy, in a press release. “Our goal is to educate all Americans with the truth about kratom— rom potential consumers to regulators and everyone in between.”

The benefits of kratom for chronic pain have been debated within the natural products industry. In a  column for WholeFoods Magazine, Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D., maintained that kratom has a lower risk than opiods.

Keep reading at WholeFoods Magazine