MICHIGAN SENATE BILL 433 THAT WOULD MAKE KRATOM A SCHEDULE 2 CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE – MEANING KRATOM COULD ONLY BE OBTAINED THROUGH A PRESCRIPTION – UPDATE

September 12th, 2019

Mac Haddow, Senior Fellow on Public Policy

Michigan State Senator John Bizon and his staff met with me and our lobbying team in Michigan today to discuss SB 433. Senator Bizon, who is a physician by trade, expressed his concerns with kratom being available to teenagers, and the potential interactions kratom may have with other medications that have been prescribed for a patient. The discussion was based on a sincere concern by Senator Bizon on these issues, and he and his staff were very respectful in our discussion that included our providing a significant amount of scientific and policy documents.

We have agreed to continue our discussions and to share additional information.  We assured Senator Bizon that AKA strongly supports appropriate regulations, including age restrictions, labeling requirements, and adherence to good manufacturing processes to restrict the inclusion of any deleterious or dangerous adulterants to kratom products.

Senator Bizon is not considering a ban on kratom, and he is seeking only to regulate it appropriately.  We look forward to working with him and his legislative team to find the right level of regulation that protects both the freedom of consumer access and the safety of kratom consumers.

ST. CHARLES COUNTY COUNCIL PASSES ORDINANCE THAT WILL SAVE LIVES AND PROTECT KRATOM CONSUMERS FROM DANGEROUSLY ADULTERATED PRODUCTS

St. Charles County, MO - August 27, 2019 - The St. Charles County Council enacted the St. Charles County Kratom Consumer Protection Ordinance that will save lives and protect consumers from dangerous black-market fake kratom that is often adulterated with potentially addictive and deadly illegal opioids. Dave Herman, chairman of The American Kratom Association (AKA), congratulated the Council “for carefully reviewing the science behind kratom and acting to protect consumers by assuring only safe and natural kratom is sold in the County. We hope this will be the model for other towns/counties/localities around the country."

The St. Charles Kratom Protection Ordinance bans adulterated kratom products, requires strict labeling requirements so consumers know exactly what is in the kratom product they are purchasing, assures the level of the kratom alkaloids have not been artificially increased above what occurs naturally, and prohibits of the sale of kratom to anyone under 18 years of age.

LINK TO RESOLUTION CAN BE FOUND HERE

The AKA team worked closely with the St. Charles County Council to help craft the language within this ordinance. Similar legislation has been adopted with near-unanimous support in Utah, Arizona, Georgia, and Nevada.

“The St. Charles County Council has acted responsibly, carefully reviewed the science that supports the level of regulation in the approved resolution, and has become the leader in local governments in responsibly regulating a marketplace for kratom to assure consumers have the freedom to safely use kratom products free from adulteration and contaminants,’ Herman concluded. “The AKA applauds this action.”

For more information about kratom and the work being done by the American Kratom Association, visit http://www.americankratom.org/update.html.

ABOUT AKA
The American Kratom Association (AKA), a consumer-based non-profit organization, is here to set the record straight about kratom and give a voice to those who are suffering and protect their rights to possess and consume kratom. AKA represents millions of Americans, each of whom have a unique story to tell about the virtues of kratom and its positive effects on their lives. www.americankratom.org

Contact Pete Candland, Executive Director with the AKA, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information or to arrange an interview.

 Give a listen to this informative podcast on Kratom from a Utah radio show In the Hive: 

Herbal remedy? Narcotic? ‘Passing fad?’

Just what is Kratom?

Show link

Guests:
Joel Badger, Partner at Grow Kratom shop in Salt Lake City
Sen. Curt Bramble (R-Provo)
Jack Henninfield, Adjunct Professor of Behavioral Biology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Advisor to the American Kratom Association
Barbara Insley Crouch, Utah Poison Control Center Executive Director

This week on In the Hive, after a chance encounter with an unfamiliar word, we delve into the world of a plant native to Southeast Asia that has both opioid-like and stimulant properties: Kratom. How is it used? What do we know about the risks involved in taking Kratom? And why is there a state law governing its distribution in Utah?

Celebrate the Ohio Victory by ordering a limited edition AKA shirt and hat! We're working with Custom Ink to sell AKA official apparel, including the #KratomSavesLives #StoptheBan Ohio shirt worn by #KratomWarriors at the hearing last week. All shipping is handled directly by Custom Ink and shirts will ship once a minimum amount of shirts have sold.

Order Here 

 See local Ohio media coverage of the kratom hearing, including interviews with Kratom Warriors

From NBC Columbus Affiliate 

COLUMBUS (WCMH) — The Ohio Board of Pharmacy has delayed a decision on a proposal to classify Kratom as a Schedule 1 controlled substance.