February 20, 2020

The AKA's Kratom Consumer Protection Act keeps gaining momentum acorss America

Please share these important legistlative updates with fellow Kratom Warriors!

Missouri House or Representatives Passes the

Kratom Consumer Protection Act 139-6

The AKA believes that science should dictate public policy on kratom, and the Missouri House agreed.  This overwhelming support for responsible regulation to protect consumers affirms the commitment of the AKA to fight for consumer protections in every state – and eventually take that fight to Congress to stop the overregulation by the FDA.

Oregon Senate Judiciary Committee Unanimously

Approves HB 4013

The Oregon Legislature is now on track to pass their version of the KCPA that provides for an age restriction, and the creation of a Task Force to determine the regulatory authority on how the controls on adulteration and labeling will be implemented.

Hawaii Legislation to Ban Kratom Dies in Committee

The sponsors of the proposed ban in Hawaii are very interested in learning more about the KCPA, and they agreed to not pursue any ban on kratom and the bill died in Committee.

AKA has scheduled briefings with key Hawaii legislators and early indications are that the KCPA will be the preferred option in the next legislative session.

February 5, 2020   

Major Maryland Victory & Ongoing Legislative Activity Across America                                                                 

Mac Haddow, Senior Fellow on Public Policy

MARYLAND HOUSE AND SENATE JUDICIARY

COMMITTEE’S “STRIKE” KRATOM BAN,

REPLACE WITH KCPA PROVISION ON AGE RESTRICTION ON KRATOM FOR UNDER 21

The threat of a ban on kratom in Maryland was eliminated when a bevy of pro-kratom consumers made the case that kratom was safe when used responsibly, it was helping many consumers to avoid highly-addictive and potentially deadly opioids, and was saving the lives of many who suffered from health conditions and pain management.

In the end, both Senator Young’s kratom ban, SB0147, and Delegate Kerr’s kratom ban, HB0283, both were officially “struck” – meaning the kratom ban bills were removed – and both bills were replaced with an important part of the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA) providing an under 21 age restriction on the purchase of kratom. Key legislators expressed an interest in working on adding provisions of the KCPA to protect consumers from adulterated kratom products.

You can watch the House Judiciary Committee Hearing at the following link (the Kratom Ban, HB0283, starts at about 3:02):

Maryland House Judiciary Committee February 4, 2020

Please note the powerful testimony of dozens of kratom advocates who provided moving testimony on how kratom has positively impacted their lives. It was an honor be in Annapolis with each of those brave, courageous kratom consumers.

The American Kratom Association was asked by several legislators to work with them and the Executive Branch in designing the best regulatory scheme for Maryland to protect against adulterated kratom products.

OREGON KCPA HB 4013 HEARING ON MONDAY, FEB. 3, SHOWS STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE KCPA

Kratom advocates found the Oregon Economic Development Committee to be receptive to implementing the Oregon KCPA. AKA’s representative, Lora Romney, member of the AKA National Kratom Consumer Advisory Council, reported that committee members were very interested in hearing how consumers can have access to pure, unadulterated kratom.

It was also very clear that these legislators were not going to be intimidated by the FDA and their anti-kratom disinformation campaign. Once again the kratom advocates won the day with powerful testimonials on how kratom has had a positive impact on their personal lives.

The AKA will keep everyone posted on the next actions by the Oregon Legislature.

MISSOURI KCPA BILL RUNS INTO FIERCE FDA OPPOSITION

The FDA is going on the attack in Missouri, but AKA’s lobbyists held their ground in a contested Hearing on February 4 and the KCPA was approved by the Legislative Oversight Rules Committee on a 6-4 vote.

Representative Phil Christofanelli’s Kratom Consumer Protection Act will now move to further consideration by the Missouri House and additional information will be provided to the kratom advocates when the next Hearing is scheduled.

FOR BREAKING KRATOM NEWS - FOLLOW MAC ON TWITTER

https://twitter.com/HaddowMac

February 20, 2020

BREAKING NEWS FROM SOUTH DAKOTA

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES UNANIMOUSLY SENDS KRATOM BAN (HB 1072) TO LEGISLATIVE PURGATORY

Please share these important legistlative updates with fellow Kratom Warriors!

BREAKING NEWS FROM SOUTH DAKOTA

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES UNANIMOUSLY SENDS KRATOM BAN (HB 1072) TO LEGISLATIVE PURGATORY

The kratom ban sponsor, Representative Perry argued passionately that the information on kratom received from Public Safety law enforcement officials showed kratom a dangerous opioid. Repeating the talking points from the FDA disinformation talking points and citing the Mayo Clinic assessment of kratom (who themselves parrot the FDA disinformation point for point), Representative Perry claimed action had to be taken dire consequences lay ahead.

But the Committee members listened to the persuasive science that contradicts all of the FDA talking points, and heard the voices of Kratom Warriors, with many Committee members citing the hundreds of emails they had received from kratom consumers who touted the benefits of kratom. There was a broad consensus the Legislature needed a lot more information before taking any action.

A motion was made to send HB 1072 to the 41^st Day – a procedural motion to kill the bill since there are only 40 days in the South Dakota legislative session – but Representative Perry interjected with a substitute “Do Pass” motion that would have sent his bill to the Floor of the Legislature for debate. That motion failed on a 10-2 vote.

The main motion to send HB 1072 to legislative purgatory (the 41^st Day) ­­where it will sit without action until the Legislature adjourns, then passed 12-0.

Congratulations to South Dakota Kratom Warriors in getting your voices heard and defending against legislation that would have criminalized all kratom consumers in South Dakota.