advocacy

Kratom’s Evolving Legal Status

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Please note: The information provided in this post does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; rather, all information and content referenced in this post are for general informational purposes only.  This post may not contain the most up-to-date legal or other information. We encourage you to do your own thorough research to verify information and to check your local laws and regulations if you have questions about kratom’s legality in your area.

Local, federal, and international laws pertaining to kratom are constantly evolving. Here in the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has put forth a great deal of misinformation in an effort to ban the plant, while organizations like the American Kratom Association (AKA), along with consumers, scientists, and other advocates work hard to ensure safe and legal access to this important botanical.

Laws change regularly, but we’ve gathered the most recent information about kratom’s legal status so you can educate yourself and advocate for kratom.

Is Kratom Legal Where I Live?

As of 2020, six states have banned kratom by listing it as a controlled substance. Kratom cannot be consumed, sold, or grown in these states. A few localities – cities and counties – have also made kratom illegal. Because new laws are enacted each year, it’s helpful to use the AKA’s resources to keep track of kratom’s legal status in your state.

Please refer to the below map for a quick visual guide to where Kratom is legal in the United States.

States Where Kratom Is Banned:

  • Alabama
  • Arkansas
  • Indiana
  • Rhode Island
  • Vermont
  • Wisconsin

Localities Where Kratom Is Banned:

Jerseyville, Illinois; San Diego, California; Sarasota County, Florida; Union County, Mississippi; Denver, Colorado (not illegal, but “not for human consumption”)

States with the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA):

Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, Utah

States with Age Restrictions:

New Hampshire: 18 and older; Tennessee: 21 and older; all states with KCPA

The American Kratom Association is currently working in over a dozen states to further enact the KCPA. This legislation would ensure both consumer safety and the legality of the kratom industry in states where it passes. Phyto wholeheartedly supports these efforts and is proud to work with the AKA to keep kratom legal.

Kratom Around the World: Is It Legal in My Country?

It is sometimes difficult to figure out kratom’s legal status in other countries because laws change on a regular basis. We try to stay current on international law, but we do not ship kratom internationally because of uncertainty around its status in some areas.

It’s always a good idea to do your own research before traveling abroad; look into local laws where you’re going, or check Reddit for answers to your international kratom questions.

Africa:
It’s not easy to find information about kratom’s legal status in Africa. We have learned that it is legal in South Africa but not widely used or even known.

Americas:
Canada’s laws are similar to Denver’s (above), where kratom is “not for human consumption.” You may find kratom described as plant matter, incense, or other vague terms. Kratom is legal in North and Central Latin America, as well as in South America. It’s not illegal in these places, but it’s also not very popular or easy to find.

Asia:
Kratom is banned in Israel, Japan, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, and Vietnam. It is legal in Hong Kong, but information kratom in China is limited.

In Thailand, kratom had been illegal since 1943, but this has recently changed. This month, the Thai government removed both kratom and cannabis from the country’s list of controlled substances, stating that these botanicals did not meet the World Health Organization’s criteria for narcotics.

Indonesia, where much of the kratom in the west is grown, is currently considering a ban on kratom exports. The American Kratom Association is working to educate the Indonesian government in an effort to impact this potential ban.

Europe:
Kratom is illegal across the board in Denmark, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Russia and Sweden. Due to changing laws, you should check local legislation for information about Ireland, Italy, and United Kingdom.

Oceania: Australia & New Zealand
Kratom is completely banned in Australia. It is a Schedule 1 substance in New Zealand, so it’s basically illegal. In some localities it may be prescribed by a doctor.

Buy Kratom online at Phytoextractum

How You Can Help

We’ve seen some exciting developments internationally, and we are eager to continue the kratom conversation on a world-wide scale. While there is some concern that Indonesia may implement a ban on kratom exports, there’s also great news in Thailand removing kratom from its list of banned substances.

Here in the US, we should always be ready to educate and advocate for kratom, especially as legislative sessions get going in early 2020. AKA has a solid plan in place to keep kratom legal on both the state and federal levels, and we support their work as much as possible.

Visit the AKA’s website to learn more about how you can get involved with advocacy efforts for our favorite botanical!

AKA: The American Kratom Association And Why It Matters

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When you enter the world of Kratom, you’re entering a large and diverse community. There are people from all walks of life and all backgrounds that enjoy using Kratom, and that’s not going to change anytime soon!

Still, the position of Kratom in America is not yet solidified. While there are millions of people that use Kratom regularly, the misconception that Kratom is a dangerous substance still exists in many areas. That rumor has led to a number of media blitzes about the danger of the substance. How can these rumors be put to rest?

Like CBD which was once viewed as dangerous, Kratom needs a champion to lead the way to full legal protection. And that champion is going to be the American Kratom Association.

AKA: American Kratom Association

The American Kratom Association, also known as AKA, is an advocacy group that is working tirelessly to cement the legal and protected status of Kratom in America. From working on grassroots movements to working with state-level politicians to pass protection acts for Kratom users in each state, AKA is doing a lot of work to ensure that Kratom can be used in the USA.

The active leadership that AKA has committed to in the community is essential! They strive to make using Kratom a safe and legal activity in America, and they’ve done amazing work doing just that. Since their work began, they have revolutionized the way that the Kratom industry operates.

Banner For Kratom Products

The Goals of AKA

According to AKA’s advocacy efforts sheet, their goal is to: “make natural kratom safe and to keep it available for millions of Americans who use it for health and wellness; manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers whose livelihoods depend on a safe and robust market; and for scientific and research communities that are actively exploring its potential.”

Basically, the American Kratom Association wants to ensure that the government is going to continue to allow the sales of safe Kratom while simultaneously holding manufacturers accountable for the products that they are putting into consumer’s hands.

AKA’s Activities

How can the American Kratom Association make these things happen? The organization works with manufacturers, consumers, media, and government politicians to help ensure that the Kratom industry becomes a fair and safe place for consumers and manufacturers alike.

Specifically, AKA works in these areas:

  • • Helps vendor members learn to promote safety properly
  • • Engages with the US government to protect the safety and availability of Kratom
  • • Keeps an eye on all FDA, NIDA, and DEA policies that might incorrectly characterize the status and nature of Kratom
  • • Engages with the media and scientific community to promote accurate and thorough research about Kratom
  • • Shares all gained knowledge with the public
  • • Sponsors the Good Manufacturing Practices Standards Program to help vendors only sell high-quality and well-tested products to Kratom consumers in America
  • • Connects with the FDA about the need to set up a regulatory system for Kratom

As you can see from the list, the American Kratom Association is very active! Not only does their list of desired actions look good on paper, but their list of positive outcome events does, too! AKA has successfully set up its GMP program and also helped a number of policies be passed in states around the country to solidify Kratom’s legal status.

More About The GMP Program

We feel that AKA’s Good Manufacturing Practices Standards Program is one of the most exciting things that they have achieved. While some organizations might not want to report their testing results or to keep up with high-quality testing requirements, we believe that it is important to keep our consumers’ safety in mind while we sell our products.

The GMP program by the American Kratom Association is a set of standards and guidelines for Kratom vendors and manufacturers to be sure that they follow. These expectations help to ensure that all Kratom sold to consumers is safe. 

The GMP program is a voluntary program, but all reputable vendors of Kratom should have no issue joining up with this program. We find that the honesty of a company willing to join and show their test results is a great thing for consumers who need to be able to see this kind of transparency.

Why We Need AKA

Some people might not see the need for an organization like the American Kratom Association. After all, isn’t it up to the FDA and the government to determine what is and what is not safe?

While we agree that government organizations should play a role in deciding what is and what is not safe to use, we know that Kratom has a solid background. Unfortunately, several biased studies and dishonest media reports have tarnished Kratom’s image. Mistakenly linked to the opioid crisis, Kratom is at risk.

But Kratom itself is not an opioid, nor does it carry any of the risks of opioids! Kratom does partially bind to receptors in the body, but it works in very different ways than opioids do and thus should not be linked to the crisis.

Unfortunately, there are some organizations determined to continue to blame Kratom for things that are not true when Kratom is used and made correctly. An organization like AKA, then, is needed to ensure that Kratom consumers will able to continue safely and legally using Kratom.

Vendors Need AKA, Too

We get very frustrated when we see vendors out there that are selling unreliable or mislabeled products to the customers. Without complete regulation in all areas, however, there is nothing stopping vendors from being dishonest in their sales tactics.

For that reason, we believe that AKA is beneficial to vendors like us as well. Honest vendors should have no problem subscribing to what AKA is trying to do, and we believe that you should only shop from vendors that are going to put your safety first.

As you shop around for your next Kratom purchase, find out if the vendors that you are buying from are part of the GMP program. If they are not, you may want to reconsider where you are going to buy from unless you have some other proof of their safety practices.

3 Tips For Talking About Kratom

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So you’ve discovered the world of kratom. You’ve enjoyed your experiences so far, but you’re hungry to learn more. Beyond that, you’re eager to share the wonders of kratom with others, but you aren’t sure how to approach talking about what many still see as a taboo area.

Like the early days of CBD oil and similar products, figuring out the best ways to talk about kratom so that you can accurately and honestly describe your experiences can be hard. What can you say even when the legal status of kratom can be a bit hard to describe?

At Phytoextractum, we are dedicated to ensuring that kratom consumers will be protected for decades to come. A big part of accomplishing that goal lies in advocacy. Today, we’ll help you learn how to become one of kratom’s best advocates by talking about it in the right ways.

Tip #1: Get Educated

Before you even try to talk about kratom with someone else to help them get an idea of what this product is like, you need to learn more about kratom yourself. Sure, you already know that you like it and that you think they might, too, but will you be able to answer their questions?

If they want to know how it works with your body to have various effects, can you explain the science of how it might work? Or would you be filling their mind with ideas rather than truths?

When it comes to kratom, we need to avoid creating or spreading any more misinformation than is already out there. Trying to educate someone about kratom when you know very little about the scientific, historical, and legal details of kratom yourself may cause more harm than good.

Before you start talking about or advocating for kratom with others, be sure you have the tools that you need. Get familiar with the following before you open that flood gate:

  • • Kratom’s history
  • • Where kratom comes from
  • • How scientists believe kratom works
  • • How to find a reputable vendor and make sure you’re getting safe products

These are just four basic things that every kratom user should be learning about kratom anyway, but knowing these things is even more important when you are going to be suggesting another person give kratom a try.

Knowledge is power. With more knowledge about kratom, you’ll be able to do a better job of sharing your feelings about it with others.

Buy Kratom online at Phytoextractum

Tip #2: Don’t Push The Limits

Remember that not everyone is going to be interested in what you’ve gained from kratom or what you have to offer. And that’s okay!

For many, the misinformation they’ve already heard about kratom and its constantly changing legal status can be too much of a barrier to overcome. While they may come to be interested in kratom once it is more clearly on the “approved” side of the law, there is no reason to push them to be interested now.

After all, what you want to do is help kratom to have a more positive image in the public eye. Pressuring people about kratom is only going to make kratom appear more dangerous than it is!

Pay attention to how much people care when you are sharing your kratom experience. If someone is engaged and asking questions, keep going! If, however, they seem a bit hesitant and are focused on the legality more than anything else, consider pointing out the current legal status of kratom and moving on.

It’s not a win-lose situation when talking about kratom. Instead, think of it as an ideas meeting where you’re sharing what you’ve got, but where there doesn’t need to be any official outcome or decision at the end of it.

Tip #3: Offer Resources In Addition To Stories

Even people who trust their friends and family often need more solid proof of something existing or working before they believe it. This is the case for many different issues, and the same can be said for kratom.

If you’re talking about someone and they have a lot of questions about how to use kratom or how it works, give some information about how it figures into your life. Sharing our stories can be a powerful way to connect with other people and to pass along important insights through personal experience.

But, don’t be surprised if someone is looking for more solid evidence than anecdotal info. In that case, you might say:

  • • “You seem really interested. Can I recommend a blog with great articles that can help you get a better understanding of kratom?”
  • • “Do you want me to send you the kratom advocacy group so you can learn more?”
  • • “Here’s a reputable online vendor; why don’t you check out the info on their site?”
  • • “Let’s go to my favorite kratom shop together sometime; you can learn a lot from the people there, too.”

It’s almost always a good idea to offer someone more than just stories when you are teaching them about something outside of their comfort zone. Knowledge will help them feel more secure in their interest, so setting them up with a way to get more of that knowledge at their own pace is one of the best things that you can do for someone.

Kratom: A Gift to Share

If kratom has changed the course of your life, it’s only natural that you’ll want to share more about the experience you’ve had with everyone who expresses any interest in kratom. But remember, simply rambling about kratom to someone for hours isn’t going to be the best way to deliver your information.

Instead, consider taking a gentle yet educational approach when you are talking to someone new about kratom. The balance between their personality and your words will create a lot of the person’s first impression of kratom, so it is important to consider your tread carefully and to try to follow their lead.

Love Kratom? Then You Need To Know These Kratom Facts!

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Kratom has become a very popular botanical, but there’s a lot that most kratom lovers do not know about this little plant. For instance, many don’t know that kratom is actually a tree that can grow very tall!

When you get a lot from something like kratom, it’s a good idea to learn more about what that botanical really is, where it comes from, and what the world has to say about it. At least that’s what we believe here at Phytoextractum!

Becoming more educated about kratom, however, can be overwhelming for those who don’t know where to begin their research. And that’s why we’ve created this series of blogs to help our customers learn more about the items that we are so proud to offer!

A Brief History of Kratom’s Origins

Kratom, also known as Mitragyna speciosa, is a tropical tree that has existed for thousands of years. This tree is related to coffee trees in a way, but the tree has very different characteristics and properties when compared to the coffee tree.

The kratom tree can be found natively grown in many Southeast Asian countries, particularly those with tropical climates:

  • • Thailand
  • • Malaysia
  • • Papua New Guinea
  • • Borneo
  • • Indonesia
  • • Myanmar

In these regions, locals have used the fresh leaves as a type of chew when grinding through hard labor. Additionally, a brewed version of kratom has been used in ritual ceremonies for hundreds of years as well.

As far as western history goes, there are European records which note the local usage of kratom from the 1800s and onward. The tree was first identified by Pieter Korthals in 1839, but it took until 1859 for a formal classification to be confirmed. 

Buy Kratom online at Phytoextractum

What Do Kratom Trees and Leaves Look Like?

When you see kratom, it’s probably already in a capsule or ground up into a powder for easy consumption. If you walked into a forest of kratom trees, would you be able to recognize them? Our guess is no, and that’s okay!

But it can be fun to learn more about what the kratom tree is like. You never know when you’ll need this piece of trivia to win a big cash prize!

Kratom trees are very tall. On average, they are around 50 feet tall. If they are growing in their preferred regions, however, they can tower to well over 80 feet!

Similar to other tropical trees, the leaves and bark have certain tropical characteristics:

  • • Smooth bark without many ridges
  • • Large leaves
  • • Leaves that appear waxy
  • • Leaves that are pointed at the tip
  • • Seemingly random brand pattern that helps the tree soak up as much sun as possible!

The leaves of kratom trees can be various shades of green, and the veins on the leaves will also change color depending on when in the growing season or life cycle of the tree they are harvested.

The specific weather patterns where the trees grow affect how they grow. In areas where the conditions are ideal (i.e., it’s always hot and humid like in Thailand), the M. speciosa tree will be huge and very tall because they need to compete with a lot of other plants for light.

In other areas (such as Indonesia), the weather changes throughout the year and can change how much growth the kratom tree goes through during the year.

Different Growing Locations

Depending on which type of conditions a tree grows in, the specific chemical makeup of the kratom tree and its leaves can change. This is how the first observable difference between strains of kratom was noticed, but these strains are now often named for the seeds’ area of origin rather than where the trees are grown.

Why is that?

Simply put, kratom trees have been made illegal in some areas where they are indigenous, such as Thailand. This means that Thai strain Kratom cannot be grown and exported from Thailand, but the Thai-style strains of kratom are still being grown in other regions with similar growing conditions.

What Are Kratom’s Active Alkaloids?

When browsing your favorite kratom websites, you’ve probably noticed that many vendors will list the percentages or amounts of mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine that can be found in a specific type of Kratom. 

Have you ever thought about what these compounds are? Many people have, but others are still clueless about the how kratom works.

These compounds are known as active alkaloids, and they are the power behind the kratom!

There are a lot of different alkaloids found in kratom, but the two that have been studied most extensively are mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. At this time, the research that has been done on these substances specifically is relatively limited. 

Still, we know that these chemical structures do a few things:

  • • They interact with a specific type of receptors in the nervous system.
  • • When they interact with this receptor, they do not bond permanently.
  • • The temporary bond creates some effects in the body, and this is what kratom users experience.

We’re very excited for more research about kratom and how it truly works within the body to happen in the coming years as kratom’s popularity continues to rise!

Legal Status & Future Advocacy

At this time, kratom is not illegal in the US, but it is still a point of contention for the FDA. Due to a lot of widely circulated misinformation, there is a certain perception that kratom is dangerous. This is widely inaccurate, and that message is changing.

And it can continue to change even more with your support!

The American Kratom Associate is a kratom advocacy group that works hard to ensure that kratom consumers will be protected from unscrupulous vendors while also advocating for the legal status of Kratom at all turns.

They have even created a Good Manufacturing Practices Standards program for kratom vendors to ensure that consumers aren’t being sold bad products. If you want to help support the future of kratom, do your part and only buy from vendors who are willing to participate in this compliance program.

As a consumer, you have the power to can help keep kratom on the market!

Georgia State Senate Unanimously Approves Kratom Bill

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Another legislatively victory for the kratom community! The Georgia State Senate has unanimously passed the Kratom Consumer Protection Act, following its approval in the Georgia House by an overwhelming 164-1 vote. The bill now goes to the Governor’s office, to be signed into law.

The Kratom Consumer Protection Act will keep consumers safe from adulterated or mislabeled kratom products. It will also ensure the future of kratom by demanding that responsible, compliant vendors step up to lead the industry. We applaud the work of the American Kratom Association, organizing and educating in Georgia. Of course, this progress would not be possible without the political will and engagement of kratom consumers like you.

Phytoextractum is a proud supporter of the American Kratom Association, and we hope our customers will be too! Their important work is funded by donations and volunteer work from vendors and consumers. Please support the AKA however you are able!

Georgia Update from the AKA:

Georgia State Senate Unanimously Approves Kratom Bill

Utah Passes Kratom Consumer Protection Act

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We’ve just learned from the American Kratom Association that the Kratom Consumer Protection Act has been passed and signed into law in Utah! This important legislation will protect kratom consumers from adulterated, contaminated, and mislabeled products and will encourage a responsible and compliant kratom industry.

We are grateful to the AKA for their leadership on this issue and their diligence in educating Utah’s lawmakers about kratom, to the legislators who championed our cause, and to all the vendors and consumers who supported this effort on the ground in various ways.

Because of the Kratom Consumer Protection Act, consumers are safer – and so is kratom. Phytoextractum is proud to support the AKA’s important work and to be an AKA GMP Qualified Kratom Vendor. We encourage all kratom consumers to learn more about the AKA’s efforts and to support them however you can!

From the American Kratom Association: