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.

Contact the San Diego County Board of Supervisors Today and Ask Them to Keep Kratom Legal

February 7, 2020

SEND YOUR EMAIL TODAY

Dear California Kratom Warriors,

We need your help today to stop a potential ban in San Diego County.

On Tuesday, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors will be meeting to discuss declaring kratom a "public nuisance", which would lead to a full kratom ban. Make no mistake, if this ban passes, others will follow in California.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE AGENDA.

We need your help with two actions:

1) Please take a few minutes and send an email to the entire Board of Supervisors. Ask them to please keep kratom legal and to work with the AKA to pass regulations that protect kratom consumers.

When writing your email to the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, please remember the following:

Always be respectful and to the point. We are asking them for their help and support.
If you are a San Diego County or a California resident, please identify yourself as such. While it's important for them to hear from everyone, the emails from local residents will carry extra significance
Share with them your personal story about how kratom has helped you or a loved one

PLEASE ONLY SUBMIT ONE EMAIL. We've seen it backfire when supporters submit multiple emails.

CLICK HERE TO SEND AN EMAIL TO THE ENTIRE SAN DIEGO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

2) If you are in the area, please attend the meeting on Tuesday morning and show your support for kratom. Your attendance would go a long way in showing these folks that banning kratom will impact a lot of people.

San Diego County Board of Supervisor Meeting to Discuss Kratom

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

9:00am

Board of Supervisors North Chamber Room 310

1600 Pacific Highway

San Diego, CA

We need your help to win this fight!

Sincerely,

American Kratom Association

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