January 12, 2023 Citizens of Livingston Parish, vendors, and a representative from the American Kratom Association (AKA) gathered at a council meeting to discuss a proposed kratom ban ordinance. The portion of the meeting discussing kratom, which councilman Tracy Girlinghouse called a “fact-finding mission”, lasted about 45 minutes. The council took comments from those in …
One by one, kratom prohibition forces are winning small victories in the parishes of Louisiana. In August 2022, Ascension Parish banned the sales of kratom. Then in October, Rapides Parish went a step further and passed an ordinance not only banning sales, but criminalizing anyone in possession of kratom. As in Rapides Parish and in …
A federal bill cosponsored by Corey Booker (D-NJ) and Mike Lee (R-UT) in the Senate and Mark Pocan (D-WI) in the House would compel Congress to begin the process of regulating kratom on a national level, and protect the kratom industry and consumers against current Food and Drug Administration (FDA) restrictions. The cosponsors introduced the …
A Florida family is suing kratom vendor Grow, LLC (d/b/a Kratom Distro) for the wrongful death of Krystal Talavera, a 39 year old nurse from Palm Beach, Florida. An open packet of “Space Dust”, reported as an extremely strong kratom extract, was found near her body when she died in June 2021. The packet was …
Florida family sues kratom vendor for wrongful death; Strong kratom extract found Read More »
In a study published in October in Frontiers in Plant Science, researchers collected leaves from kratom trees in various regions of Thailand to measure mitragynine (MG) levels, and to account for environmental variables that may influence the alkaloid content. The team from Kasetsart University in Bangkok found a range of mitragynine content, from 7.5 to …
Scientists study mitragynine levels in Thai kratom Read More »
On November 16, Greene County Circuit Court in Arkansas sentenced a man to 10 years in prison for carrying kratom. Arkansas classified kratom a Schedule 1 substance in 2015, making it just as illegal as heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine. In 2021, Greene County police pulled over Marshall Ray Price, 46. Police claim Price was driving …
Arkansas man sentenced to 10 years for “trafficking” kratom Read More »
Nov 8 2022 Voters in Arkansas, Maryland, Missouri, North Dakota and South Dakota today will get to decide on ballot questions that will offer some form of cannabis legalization. In Colorado, a Yes on Prop 122 will decriminalize certain psychedelics. Polling indicates the Maryland initiative is likely to pass, and a majority of Missouri residents …
Cannabis, Psychedelics Reform on the Ballot in 6 States Read More »
The parents of a man who died after ingesting kratom extract are suing multiple kratom companies and the American Kratom Association (AKA). In a 45 page complaint, Dana and John Pope allege their 23 year old son, Ethan, died after purchasing and ingesting “one or more bottles” of OPMS extract from two stores in two …
Another Louisiana parish turned back the clock on rational drug policy and decided to criminalize kratom consumers. On October 10, the Rapides Parish Police Jury (the governing body of the parish, made up of elected officials, much like a county council) voted unanimously to fine and imprison citizens for the possession and sale of kratom. …
Rapides Parish, Louisiana Criminalizes Kratom Consumers Read More »
The conversation around kratom is as complex as the plant itself. For kratom to manifest in our society as a healing plant instead of a perceived dangerous drug, the science of kratom needs to become conventional wisdom. For the millions of Americans kratom has already helped, we can’t afford to spend 80 years digging our …
Why engaging with kratom misinformation hurts more than helps Read More »