[Gainesville, VA, October 15, 2024] – The American Kratom Association (AKA) and the Center for Plant Science and Health (CPSH) strongly denies the allegations in a recently filed lawsuit by JW Ross of Botanic Tonics against the AKA, CPSH, and C. McClain “Mac” Haddow. This lawsuit appears to be retaliation by Mr. Ross and Botanic Tonics for AKA’s unwillingness to yield to demands from Mr. Ross on key initiatives he promotes, including (1) a demand for AKA to support legislation in California promoted by Mr. Ross and Botanic Tonics, and (2) a demand that AKA join Botanic Tonics in appealing a recent decision by the State of Utah to de-list Botanic Tonics’ flagship kava- kratom product known as “Feel Free.”
The AKA’s objections to the Botanic Tonics California kratom legislation were based on the legislative framework that would have restricted consumer choices, increased prices, stifled innovation, and eliminated competing kratom products from the marketplace to the advantage of Botanic Tonics' flagship product, "Feel Free." The California legislation failed because it was deeply flawed and based entirely on using legislation to interfere with competition and manipulate the marketplace to the benefit of a very small number of kratom product vendors.
In addition, Mr. Ross has publicly and falsely claimed the AKA directed a regulatory action by the Utah Department of Agriculture and Foods to delist "Feel Free" from sale in Utah, based on concerns that the kava-kratom mixture was an adulterated kratom product with an unknown safety profile. That claim is untrue.
