Current Events

Banning Drugs is Anti-Science, Anti-Health, and Anti-Social

“Thankfully now, this is legal. The whole idea of Schedule 1, I think, is going to go away. How bizarre is that? That these molecules are ‘evil’. Please, come on!” That is a direct quote from celebrity addiction medicine specialist Dr. Drew Pinsky on his new YouTube podcast, “Dr. Drew After Dark”, recorded in California …

Banning Drugs is Anti-Science, Anti-Health, and Anti-Social Read More »

Kratom Legality Update: Georgia House Votes to Regulate, Ohio Board of Pharmacy votes to Ban, Public Hearing on Kratom Ban in Lowndes Co, MS

Georgia House Passes Bill Requiring Age Restrictions, Labeling Requirements for Kratom Following advocacy from the American Kratom Association as well as Georgian kratom consumers, the Georgia House of Representatives voted 164-1 to move forward on a bill regulating kratom in the state. House Bill 551, should it pass through the Georgia Senate and be signed …

Kratom Legality Update: Georgia House Votes to Regulate, Ohio Board of Pharmacy votes to Ban, Public Hearing on Kratom Ban in Lowndes Co, MS Read More »

Parents Sue Kratom Company After Son Dies in Car Accident; Coroner Fought to Keep Autopsy Secret

Parents in Chester County, PA are suing kratom distributor SoCal Herbal Remedies. Their son, Caleb Sturgis, died in a car accident in 2018. He was 25. The Chester County Coroner ruled the cause of death “acute mitragynine intoxication”. In the typical sensationalist reporting, stretching itself out of context, ignoring the blaring questions raised by this …

Parents Sue Kratom Company After Son Dies in Car Accident; Coroner Fought to Keep Autopsy Secret Read More »

Kratom News: Federally Approved Substances Remain the Reason for a Vast Majority of Poison Control Center Calls

We’ve been seeing in the news again lately that poison control centers are receiving an increasing amount of calls about kratom. We’ve seen stories like this in 2016. CNN ran a story yesterday. In 2018 three of CNN’s top ten advertisers were drug dealers (Humira, Otzela, and Neulasta — how do they come up with …

Kratom News: Federally Approved Substances Remain the Reason for a Vast Majority of Poison Control Center Calls Read More »

Kratom News: Science- and evidence-based articles (for a change) posted in popular websites; AKA to hold webinar on Kratom Consumer Protection bills

In Kratom News this week, two websites popular for the average person to research health topics, Psychology Today and WebMD, have posted excellent articles about kratom this week. Usually with popular media, kratom is, at best, presented with the question “Deadly drug or miracle cure?” — one or the other, suggesting their readership or viewership …

Kratom News: Science- and evidence-based articles (for a change) posted in popular websites; AKA to hold webinar on Kratom Consumer Protection bills Read More »

One-Sided Local News Reporting and a ban on Kratom in Columbus, Mississippi

Following one-sided, “Reefer Madness” style fear-based reports from news outlets in North Mississippi, the town of Columbus, MS decided to ban kratom. A February 4, 2019 report by news station WCBI featured Lowndes County resident Angela Jourdan who claimed her marriage was “affected by Kratom” and was lobbying to the Columbus city council to have …

One-Sided Local News Reporting and a ban on Kratom in Columbus, Mississippi Read More »

What Happens Next Should the Ohio Board of Pharmacy Recommend a Ban on Kratom

UPDATE: An hour after this posting, the AKA sent out an email stating “the Board decided to defer any action until additional information is obtained on a number of key questions on the science relating to safety and addiction potential of the kratom plant versus adulterated kratom products”. Great news! “The next discussion on kratom …

What Happens Next Should the Ohio Board of Pharmacy Recommend a Ban on Kratom Read More »

Kratom Advocates Share Their Stories at Georgia House Study Committee

On December 28, 2018, a Georgia House of Representatives study committee convened to discuss kratom and take public comments. Rep. Dewayne Hill chaired the committee, and sat on a panel with other GA representatives Michael Caldwell, Karen Mathiak, and Vernon Jones (who openly uses and advocates for kratom), as well as State Senator Jeff Mullins. …

Kratom Advocates Share Their Stories at Georgia House Study Committee Read More »

Happening Now: Georgia House Study Committee on Kratom Risks Hearing

Press release by the American Kratom Association: Kratom Warriors, As a reminder, tomorrow is the day for the Georgia public hearing on kratom! The House Study Committee on the Risks Associated with Kratom will hold its final Hearing on Friday, Dec. 28th at 11:00am in Room 606 CLOB (Coverdell Legislative Office Bldg.). This will be …

Happening Now: Georgia House Study Committee on Kratom Risks Hearing Read More »