Phyto

KCPA in Oregon: The Latest News on This Active Bill

by

Phytoextractum has been thrilled to be part of changing the landscape of the Kratom industry across the US for the last few years. Recently, we’ve been working with Kratom advocacy organizations to help pass the Kratom Consumer Protection Act in Oregon.

If you’re familiar with Kratom news, you might remember that the Oregon state legislature previously passed a KCPA bill during the 2021 session only to have it vetoed at the Governor’s desk. This time, however, we’ll be able to see Oregon’s first official KCPA bill come to fruition.

Today, learn more about the KCPA bill in Oregon, what happened to the first iteration of the bill, and what’s going on with the current bill.

What is KCPA?

Are you unfamiliar with KCPA bills? Let’s do a quick review.

Known formally as Kratom Consumer Protection Acts, KCPA bills are bills created at the state level to provide guidance, regulation, and protections to everyone involved in the Kratom industry. From rules that protect consumers’ right to take Kratom to guidelines for Kratom processors to follow, KCPA ensures that Kratom is a safe, protected product.

KCPA bills also include a variety of testing rules for vendors and processors to ensure that consumers have safe access to Kratom. The combination of all of these rules is known simply as KCPA, and Kratom advocacy organizations are working across the country to help get these bills passed.

Without any of these protections in place, consumers cannot verify that the Kratom they purchase is safe and adequately tested. Additionally, processors and vendors have a hard time knowing exactly what they need to do to keep up with the latest best practices in the industry. Across the board, there is room for error in the entire industry without KCPA.

Why a Prior KCPA Bill in Oregon Didn’t Become Law

As mentioned above, the Oregon state legislature previously passed a version of a KCPA bill, but it ultimately did not become law. The state’s governor, Kate Brown, decided to veto the bill last year due to some areas that she felt were weak and had potential for issues for the state.

Specifically, Governor Brown was worried about which organization would be in charge of setting up the guidelines, regulations, and more for the Kratom industry. The original bill suggested that the Department of Agriculture would be responsible for this, just as they are for marijuana. However, the Governor disagreed with this choice.

This caused her to veto the bill. While we were unhappy with this development, we didn’t give up. We went back to work on adapting the bill to adjust for the Governor’s concerns. After working through her concerns with the Governor’s Office, the Oregon KCPA bill was redrafted and introduced in the House.

What’s Changed Since Then

Since then, we and other advocates of the KCPA bill in Oregon have considered the Governor’s input and worked on updating the guidelines to match her recommendations. The new version of OR HB4010 sets the Department of Revenue up as the regulatory agency, and previous critics have publicly supported this change.

Phytoextractum has been a critical backer of this bill for several legislative sessions, and we’re happy to be supporting other advocacy groups in getting these protections in place. Our public testimony on the importance of these regulations in the industry has played a significant role in getting KCPA moving in Oregon.

In fact, we’ve been working with these groups for more than five years in Oregon and other states to ensure that similar protections happen across the country. We want to see both Kratom processors and consumers be able to safely exist in the Kratom industry, and we believe that we’re on the right path to see that change.

Is KCPA in Oregon Now Law?

OR HB4010, also known as Oregon’s KCPA, was passed unanimously by the Oregon State Senate on March 2nd, after also passing unanimously in the House. Thankfully, Governor Brown was pleased with the changes made to the bill. She signed it into law on March 23rd, and this is a huge step for the Kratom community in Oregon.

Now, vendors and processors will be required to keep up with the latest rules and regulations set by the Department of Revenue, and a system to ensure the protection of products and consumers will be set into place in the coming months. These changes will be essential for the long-term preservation and success of the industry. We’re thrilled to see these things taking root.

The Kratom industry will reduce unregistered processors and untested products within the marketplace. Additionally, consumers will be able to purchase Kratom legally and confidently, which is a huge win for the Kratom industry in Oregon.

Ready to Advocate For Kratom?

Do you want to see similar protections in other states? Many states have not yet adopted any of these KCPA protections, and we are working every day to try to see these changes enacted nationwide. We’re fighting to prevent anti-Kratom laws from being enacted in some states. No matter where you are in the country, there is somewhere for you to get involved.

Ask around your local Kratom shop or visit the American Kratom Associations website today to find out how you can get involved. Join us on our mission to ensure that safe, legal Kratom remains legal across the US. Your testimony could make a huge difference in seeing KCPA protections spread across the country.

Buy Kratom online at Phytoextractum

CBD Science: CBD’s Effect ON 5-HT Receptors

by

Do you know how reported effects of CBD happen inside your body?

CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system in our body and causes different types of positive benefits. There are a number of layers to how those interactions happen. There is even talk about how cannabinoids, in general, can have effects on other receptors on the body; we’re sure to learn more and more as research into CBD continues.

Today, we’re learning about how 5-HT receptors are affected by CBD. If you aren’t familiar with either of these things, don’t worry! We’ll give a complete rundown as we continue educating customers like you about CBD and the science behind it.

How CBD Interacts With Endocannabinoid Receptors

Before we get into the details of what the 5-HT receptors are and why they matter with CBD, let’s talk about the endocannabinoid system (ECS).

The endocannabinoid system is a system that specifically receives signals from cannabinoids such as CBD and THC. The system is made up of receptors, enzymes, and other bits that process various body reactions. The system can have effects on pain, appetite, emotions, and more.

While CBD does interact with CB1 and CB2 (the primary endocannabinoid receptors), there are other receptors outside of the ECS that interact with CBD more strongly. 

5-HT Receptors and CBD

One of the receptors that interact with CBD very effectively is the 5-HT receptor. Specifically, CBD interacts with the 5-HT1A receptor.

What Is The 5-HT1A Receptor?

The 5-HT1A receptor is a serotonin receptor. Serotonin receptors work in the central and peripheral nervous systems to regulate and stimulate a wide variety of both biological and psychological functions in the body.

The 5-HT1A has been shown to have effects in numerous of the body’s processes, and there may be more areas of influence that have yet to be studied. We can’t get into all of the science here for the risk of sounding like doctors (we aren’t!), but we do encourage you to find out all you can about potential benefits from reputable sources. 

5-HT1A is just one of many 5-HT receptors. This family of receptors is known more generally as serotonin receptors because serotonin is used to regulate related functions. Because of the wide variety of areas that 5-HT receptors can affect, a lot of pharmaceutical drugs are created to interact with these receptors. 

CBD Binds To 5-HT1A

Studies have shown that certain amounts of CBD can activate the 5-HT1A receptor and cause changes in the body’s biological and psychological state. This means that CBD could have effects on any of the systems or areas under study for affect by the 5-HT1A system.

Stress, in particular, has been studied with regard to how CBD and 5-HT1A interact. Early studies show that CBD may help to slow the effect of stress on the body, but more research still needs to be done to confirm this.

CBDa, which is a precursor to the formation of CBD found in live plants, has very strong reactions with 5-HT1A as well. Since it binds more strongly than CBD to these receptors, there is interest in doing more studies about how CBDa might be used to enhance a number of other structures and functions in the body.

Beyond 5-HT1A

As mentioned, CBD binds with different types of receptors in the body. Each time it is able to bind strongly with receptors in the body, there is a chance that some positive benefits may happen.

Most of the time, we focus on what reactions the receptors have when CBD binds with them, but we also need to talk about what doesn’t happen when CBD binds with them!

Anytime a receptor binds with a molecule, the receptor is no longer available to other molecules. Sometimes a stronger match will come along that causes the molecules to sort of swap places, but the receptor cannot typically be activated by multiple molecules at one time.


Because of this, CBD can be referred to as a reuptake inhibitor. Let’s explore what this means!

CBD Blocks Other Molecules

To understand how CBD blocks other molecules and what this could mean for the body, let’s walk through the molecule-receptor binding process.

  1. 1. Binding proteins bring molecules into cells or near enough to them to react. Some receptors are on the inside of cells; some are on the outside. Regardless, most molecules need to be carried in on certain fatty proteins to be able to make it through the protective layers.
  2. 2. CBD is very attracted to these fatty proteins. Often, it will beat out other molecules when being picked up by the proteins. This means that CBD gets into the cells rather than another molecule.
  3. 3. CBD prevents the breakdown of other substances because it binds to receptors and proteins instead of them; thus, it can act as an inhibitor.

Let’s talk about a more specific example to help you understand.

There are scientific studies that support the idea of CBD being a beneficial substance. How might it benefit the body? For example, when CBD is picked up by proteins instead of a substance known as adenosine, less adenosine is broken down.

Higher levels of adenosine mean that more adenosine binds to A1A and A2A receptors. These receptors are responsible for blood flow, and increased blood flow may contribute to wellness. In some cases, issues may be caused by a lack of adenosine because the body is processing it too quickly.

CBD, it seems, can help to prevent that.

More CBD Science

Are you interested in learning more about CBD science? Great!

One of the things that we pride our business on is that we take time to educate our customers about more than just our specific products; we also love sharing more about the science behind them!

CBD, in general, is still a widely misunderstood substance even as it grows in popularity. Many people do not understand how or why it works, so we have created a number of informational guides to facets of that information.

Here are a few of our most popular informational articles:

To stay updated with the information we share on our resources blog, you can visit the blog here!

What Is Delta-8 & How Does It Compare To Kratom?

by

There are millions of plant species and varieties in the world, and there is so much still to be learned about these plants and what’s inside them. That’s why so many “new” plant substances are discovered, identified, and shared each year. Often, these substances were already being utilized in society, but they hadn’t yet been separated to be studied independently.

Recently, Delta-8 has become more popular and known in the United States. This cannabinoid found in cannabis plants is one of over 100 cannabinoids produced naturally by the plant. The amount produced in plants is relatively small, yet Delta-8 is getting very popular.

How is this possible, and is Delta-8 comparable to Kratom in any way? Today, we’ll tell you all we know about this unique substance so that you can get a better idea of what it is and how it may or may not be useful. For more information about the differences between CBD and Kratom, check out this blog post: Comparing Natural Products: Kratom & CBD Explained.

Delta-8: What Is It?

Delta-8’s full name is delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol. It’s sometimes abbreviated as delta-8 THC, just as delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (more commonly known as simply “THC” when talking about cannabinoids) is also abbreviated to delta-9 THC. 

Delta-8 THC is a psychoactive cannabinoid found in multiple types of cannabis plants, including hemp and marijuana. Cannabis plants do not produce large amounts of delta-8, however, so a large portion if not all of the delta-8 products on the market are synthesized from hemp-derived CBD.

By many consumer accounts, delta-8 is not as psychoactive as delta-9, but there’s not a lot of scientific research to support or disprove these anecdotes yet. Delta-8 THC’s structure is relatively similar to delta-9, so there may be an overlap between their effects and side effects.

Kratom and Delta-8: Two Very Different Products

Delta-8 and Kratom are both derived from plants, which means that some people are likely to compare them. Still, being plant-derived doesn’t make Kratom and delta-8 truly similar. In fact, the two are very different.

Kratom powder and products originate from trees in Southeast Asia, where the leaves are harvested and dried to create powders. The natural effects of this powder have been used as traditional medicine in those areas for centuries.

Delta-8 THC is a variant of a cannabinoid found in cannabis plants that must be further processed to be synthesized and held stable. Different cannabinoids, including delta-8’s cousin delta-9 THC, have been used throughout history, but the effects, uses, and history of the substance are very different from those of Kratom.

Something similar about Kratom and delta-8 is that they both have confusing legal statuses. Kratom is legal in some states, regulated in some states, and illegal in others. Similarly, delta-8’s legality varies depending on the exact rules about hemp and hemp-derived substances in that region.

Beyond that similarity, however, there is no solid reason to compare the substances or their uses.

Derived From Hemp: CBD and Delta-8

If you want to talk about a substance that is similar to delta-8, it’s best to talk about delta-8 as a sibling of CBD. Both CBD and delta-8 THC are cannabinoids found in hemp plants.

Hemp plants contain over 100 different cannabinoids, and various cannabinoids are extracted to create functional, sometimes therapeutic, substances. CBD is one of those substances, and it is arguably the most popular worldwide because it is not intoxicating and has been scientifically shown to have many positive benefits.

Delta-8 THC, on the other hand, is only produced in minimal quantities by hemp plants. Hemp-derived CBD and other cannabinoids must be further processed to create shelf-stable delta-8, drawing some questions about legality and safety.

Is Delta-8 Legal?

As mentioned above, the legality of delta-8 THC isn’t always straightforward.

Hemp-derived products have some amount of legality in the United States on a federal level, thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill. This bill legalized the production and sale of hemp products that contain less than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC. There are no specific rules about delta-8 THC as long as the levels of delta-9 THC are followed.

However, plants don’t usually contain substantial amounts of delta-8 naturally. It simply doesn’t show up in large concentrations in hemp plants. For that reason, delta-8 is generally created through manufacturing by synthetically converting CBD or delta-9 THC. This process is likely illegal. Only the tiny amounts of delta-8 THC which occurs naturally may be legal. 

The best way to be sure about legality in your area is to check state and local laws. Some states have specific protections and guidelines in place about delta-8, including delta-8 bans, so you can be sure that you are not breaking any rules by checking the laws in the area where you live or may be visiting. 

However, it is best to be cautious when pursuing or using synthetically produced products. There aren’t enough regulations in place at this time to be confident in their safety, so you may want to avoid them when possible.

Buy Kratom online at Phytoextractum

Kratom Consumer Protection Act: Various State Updates

by

Over the last few years, we’ve provided our customers with updates about Kratom’s legal status and any related laws to keep you informed. Today, we’re back with another update about developments on Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA) proposals in various states.

The Kratom Consumer Protection Act, also known as KCPA, are passed in some states to create structure and protections for consumers. These bills aim to ensure that Kratom is safe for consumers while being protected as a legal botanical.

Laws on Kratom change from year to year, but these are some of the latest developments as of January 2022. For the latest updates in your state, check your local news and state laws to determine if any changes have been made.

What KCPA Is (And Why We Need It)

Before we get into state-specific changes, let’s touch on what is generally included in KCPA legislation and why those things are essential. Every state will have its specific language, but some common points tend to be recommended by advocates in every state.

The Kratom Consumer Protection Act is a bill that sets up specific guidelines for a Kratom marketplace, including safety guidelines for how the product should be labeled and sold. Since the FDA does not regulate Kratom or want to do so, KCPA laws ensure that the industry is operating safely and effectively so that consumers can have a reliable experience with these products.

KCPA bills are important so that Kratom lovers aren’t left to buy their products in an unregulated industry. Though reliable sellers like our team here at Phytoextractum do our best to ensure our products are adequately tested, packaged, and sold, not all vendors hold themselves to the same standard. KCPA rules set up those requirements.

KCPA Updates: States Where Kratom Rules Are Changing

Original States With Established KCPA Rules

Through the work of advocacy organizations such as the American Kratom Association, KCPA bills have been passed in the following four states:

  • • Georgia
  • • Utah
  • • Nevada
  • • Arizona

The process of implementing the standards in the KCPA has been particularly interesting in Utah as this is one of the states where the process has been most clearly documented from start to finish. The Utah Department of Agriculture is partnering with the American Kratom Association to establish this process.

New Addition: Oklahoma

In May of 2021, Oklahoma became the fifth US state to officially pass KCPA legislation. The bill, known as HB2846, ensures that vendors must disclose specific information when packaging and selling Kratom. Additionally, the bill provides protections for Kratom consumers in the state.

This marks a significant accomplishment for Kratom advocates across the country. It takes a long time to get an act like KCPA through the state legislature, any necessary revisions, and then finally, voted on. The bill was passed in March 2020 but was just signed into law in early 2021 by the state governor. Now, it will need to be implemented across the state. 

States With Bills In Progress

In addition to states where KCPA bills have been completely passed through the state legislature, there are also several states where bills have been proposed and are being moved through the legislative process.

Each of these states has a different ongoing situation, and whether or not the bills will ultimately be passed cannot be predicted. However, advocates in each of these states feel confident that they will be able to see KCPA bills passed in the near future.

Oregon: Trying Again After Governor’s Veto

HB4013 was passed through our state’s House and Senate in 2021, unanimously in the former chamber and nearly unanimously in the latter. Oregon’s governor was expected to sign the bill but had a differing idea of which agency would regulate the Kratom program. After working with the governor and legislators to develop a satisfactory draft bill, advocates – including us! – are optimistic that the bill will be passed and signed during the 2022 session.

Missouri: Pending Senate Action

Proposed KCPA measures in Missouri passed through the state’s House legislature in 2020 but died in the Senate. It is being reintroduced this session, and if passed, we can expect to see KCPA measures signed into law in late 2022 by the Missouri governor.

Kansas: Pending State Action

While a KCPA bill passed through one committee unanimously in early 2020, there has yet to be any movement on advancing the bill further. Advocates in the state are working with politicians to see when and how the bill may proceed.

Defeated Bans

Another interesting category to take a closer look at is the defeated bans category. In many states, there have been attempts to ban Kratom at the state level. These bans are often contested by advocates, and in some states, the bans are completely defeated. States where this reversal has occurred include:

  • • Florida
  • • Maine
  • • New York
  • • Ohio
  • • Kentucky
  • • Virginia
  • • ….. and many more!

Even in states where some type of ban exists, advocates are working closely with legislatures to replace those bans with KCPA bills with great success. As these bills are drawn up and the general public becomes more educated about what it takes for Kratom to exist on the marketplace safely, we can expect to see more bans reversed or removed entirely.

Will We Ever See A Federal KCPA?

Many invested in the future of the Kratom industry wonder if we will ever see something like a federal Kratom Consumer Protect Act implemented. Even though there have been some attempts to implement this type of legislation, the history of substance-related laws in the U.S. makes it a complicated issue.

Even substances that are legal to use at the federal level, such as alcohol, are regulated at the state level. That is why different states have varying laws about where and when liquor can be purchased. If a federal Kratom law is implemented to make it legal on a national scale, bills to set up the specific rules, guidelines, and labeling practices would still be likely to fall to the states to set up.

That is why it is helpful for advocacy organizations to work towards setting up these KCPA bills in as many states as possible, even if the ultimate goal for many is to see Kratom nationally legalized. The standards established will still benefit the community as a whole.

Buy Kratom online at Phytoextractum

Why The GMP Program Is (Seriously) Awesome

by

In the Kratom industry, there are a lot of different ways that we could choose to operate our business. With little direction at the federal level, operating in a way that fits with our business goals best would be easy to do with few repercussions.

In fact, there are many Kratom vendors that operate just like that, with little but profit in mind.

Phytoextractum, however, believes that there is a better way for us to do business. That is why we comply with the guidelines laid out in the American Kratom Association’s Good Manufacturing Practices program (and why we think more vendors should do the same!)

The GMP program might not be common knowledge among all consumers, but it is worth the investment all the same. Let’s learn about why this program is so great and why we take our membership in the program so seriously!

AKA & GMP

When you’re new to the behind-the-scenes world of Kratom, you might be confused by the acronyms AKA and GMP being used so regularly. So let’s address what these two stand for and why they are so frequently used throughout the industry.

The American Kratom Association (AKA)

The American Kratom Association is a nonprofit organization that is focused on ensuring that Kratom continues to be safe and legal for consumers to buy and take in America. Through work on legislation, manufacturing practices, grassroots movements, and more, AKA works to ensure that the industry remains safe and in operation.

Kratom has not been regulated or addressed on a national scale, so the rules are different in each state. Much of what the AKA works on is ensuring that each state passes the necessary consumer protection acts to ensure that Kratom lovers can buy high-quality Kratom and safely use it.

The funds raised by AKA are used to work on lobbying for Kratom consumer protections in each state, and they are also used to support research into Kratom to help prove its uses on the scientific side of things.

Additionally, they work to educate both vendors and consumers on what types of practices need to be followed for safe Kratom. In particular, they put time and effort into setting up the GMP program so that vendors could be held to a higher standard.

The Good Manufacturing Practices Program (GMP)

Every industry, from yarn to lumber to fish farms, has their own set of standard best practices. These practices are legally regulated and monitored to some degree; they are self-sustaining within the industry through certification programs as well.

In the Kratom industry, little-to-no regulation was happening in the legal world before AKA started their work. Within the industry, many vendors were doing all that they could to use best practices. Still, there was no clear standard for what was appropriate.

Enter the GMP. The GMP Program is also known as the Good Manufacturing Practices Program, and it is a standards program that was set up by the American Kratom Association.

What Does The GMP Do?

The program seeks to ensure that the industry follows a clear and comprehensive set of practices to ensure that all Kratom sold to consumers is safe and that the supply chain is properly recorded.

With the GMP program certification in place, consumers can be sure that the Kratom they buy is reputably sourced, fully-tested, and properly packaged. Since the companies are doing regular batch testing, consumers are more likely to get a high-quality product.

The GMP guidelines are regularly updated by AKA to ensure they reflect the latest research, and vendors in the program must comply with guideline updates. Even the most informed vendors might have a hard time keeping up with the best practices as they are changing so frequently, so having a program like the GMP to provide guidance is key.

On the whole, what the GMP Program does is simple: they keep the industry in line. Sure, not every vendor out there is part of the program, but many have seen the importance of this type of regulation and are happy to join in. As time goes on, the overall standards of the industry will rise to match the high standards held by the GMP participants.

Why We Take GMP Seriously

We take the GMP guidelines seriously because we believe that it is our responsibility to only sell high-quality products to our consumers. Consumers trust vendors to sell them the best products; vendors need to uphold that trust by doing all that they can to follow appropriate sourcing, testing, and packaging procedures.

Additionally, we want the overall industry to be held to a higher standard so that it can continue to exist in America. Without some regulations that prevent negligent vendors from selling untested or low-quality Kratom in America, the industry will suffer.

That is why we are proud members of the GMP program, and we will continue to take it seriously. 

Frequent and complete testing of our products is the only way that we can be truly sure that everything we sell is as safe as possible. As much as we trust our supply chain, there are too many unknowns for a Kratom vendor like us to neglect testing. With the guidelines supplied by the GMP program, we can set up our testing process.

Go Shopping For GMP-Compliant Kratom

Are you interested in buying Kratom from GMP-compliant companies?

Thankfully, the American Kratom Association makes this very easy to do! Check out the list of vendors that are part of the GMP program on their website, and then do your shopping. If you want to shop locally, you can also take this list with you and see what is in stock at your local establishment.

Buying GMP-compliant Kratom is a good way to show your support for this program. By supporting the companies that ensure they are doing all they can to protect the kratom industry, you are also helping to protect the kratom industry from cheap, low-quality kratom.

Here at Phytoextractum, we’re happy that we are one of the accredited members of this program. All Kratom products found on our site have been tested, processed, and handled in accordance with those standards, so you can shop our collection with peace of mind!

All About GMP (And How It Protects Kratom Consumers Like You)

by

Every industry has manufacturing practices that companies in the industry are expected to follow. These practices are in place not only to keep the workers in each company safe but also to ensure that consumers are always receiving a safe and reliable product.

Without standards, there would be no way for consumers to feel confident that they are buying a safe, well-tested product.

Before the GMP program was established by the American Kratom Association, these standards were practically nonexistent across the industry. While individual vendors like us here at Phytoextractum had their own rules about testing and standards, they were not consistent between vendors.

Let’s find out what the GMP program consists of, why it is so important, and how we can continue to ensure that these practices continue to protect consumers and companies in the Kratom industry for decades to come.

What Is The GMP Program?

The GMP Program is a Kratom-specific program that was established by the American Kratom Association as an attempt to coordinate and normalize safe manufacturing practices among various Kratom vendors.

GMP, which stands for Good Manufacturing Practices, is a program that sets up a certain standard, and Kratom vendors have to prove that they are meeting these standards in order to be certified. Then, they must continue to prove that they follow the program’s guidelines each year if they want to continue to be certified by the GMP program for safety compliance.

GMP Program Requirements

The complete guidelines of the program can be found on the American Kratom Association’s website, but these are some of the most important general requirements:

  • ➡ Specific labeling guidelines which may not include certain claims
  • ➡ Safe operating procedures in regards to sick workers
  • ➡ Written procedures in place for all shipping reception and processing
  • ➡ Batch testing and record-keeping
  • ➡ Complete supply chain record-keeping
  • ➡ Restrictions on marketing practices

With guidelines like these, the program helps to support vendors to be as safe as possible when working with Kratom processing, sales, and marketing. It’s part of the responsibility of vendors to upkeep a level of safety for consumers, and this program helps do just that.

Why Is The GMP Program Necessary?

As you may or may not know, Kratom has a somewhat confusing legal status in America. Like most substances, the final call about the legality of Kratom exists at the state-by-state level. While this type of decision making is common, the differences between regulations in each state mean that negligent vendors can sell untested Kratom.

Untested Kratom could be very dangerous for consumers, and consumers getting sick from their Kratom is not OK! Additionally, cases of bad Kratom batches making it to the market weaken the case for Kratom as a safe substance to use. Some in the federal government have already made their skepticism of Kratom known, and problematic cases due to messy testing will only make that worse.

The GMP program accomplishes a few major fixes within the industry:

  • ➡ Sets up testing protocol
  • ➡ Sets up guidelines that are specific to the Kratom industry
  • ➡ Sets up a standard that can be checked and improved as needed
  • ➡ Gives consumers peace of mind when choosing their vendor
  • ➡ Protects consumers from untested product
  • ➡ Educates manufacturers, vendors, and consumers about safe Kratom

All successful industries have a type of manufacturing standards that are expected to be followed, and the GMP program creates those standards for the Kratom industry. Vendors that choose to participate are helping to improve the overall industry.

How GMP Protects Consumers

Before the GMP program existed, some vendors were doing their best to make sure that Kratom was tested properly. Limited knowledge and the lack of a clear procedure path, however, led even well-meaning Kratom vendors to sell questionable products.

Consumers, however, had no way of knowing if the Kratom that they were purchasing could be trusted or not. There was no impartial way to judge the different vendors when shopping around, and that led to stress and safety issues.

With the GMP program in place, it is possible for consumers to look at the list of GMP participants and then decide where they would like to shop.

Additionally, the GMP program helps all Kratom vendors become educated about the best practices for Kratom. Even if consumers know nothing about the program, they are still being protected as vendors work to make sure their products are as safe as possible.

Phytoextractum’s Commitment To GMP

Here at Phytoextractum, we are very committed to the GMP program!

Without it, we feel that the overall Kratom industry would not be nearly as safe as it is today. The structure, direction, and guidelines that it provides to vendors of all sizes make it possible to identify risk factors and eliminate them.

We know that there are dangers associated with untested and low-quality Kratom, and we can see how the GMP program reduces the risks those have for all Kratom consumers. 

That is why we are proud to be compliant, certified members of the GMP program and plan to continue endorsing this program for the foreseeable future.

How To Shop For GMP Compliant Kratom

Are you interested in making sure that you shop for GMP-compliant Kratom in the future? That’s great; we’re glad that you see the importance of putting quality before price.

We’re happy to offer a great variety of well-priced (and well-tested) Kratom here in our shop, but we also know that we might not have everything that you are looking for.

Here is what we recommend doing to ensure that you are shopping from GMP-compliant vendors:

  • ➡ Bookmark this list on the AKA website of GMP certified vendors
  • ➡ Shop around to find a few vendors that you are interested in buying from
  • ➡ Check to see if the vendor is on the list
  • ➡ If they are, shop away!

If you plan to shop locally, you can save this list to your phone and then check the products that are available in-store to choose your next batch of Kratom. Chances are pretty good that your local vendor already vets what they stock, but you can never be too careful.

By taking this simple extra step, you can protect yourself and the Kratom industry. And for that, we thank you!