Current Events

DEA to Cut Opioid Supply; Now Accepting Public Comments

1 Comment / Current Events, General, News / By

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is threatening to cut the supply of opioids at a time when pain patients are struggling to access treatment, and illicit opioids are becoming more potent. The DEA is receiving public comments on the proposed cuts at this link:  https://www.regulations.gov/document/DEA-2023-0150-0001 . Comments are due by December 4, 2023. The Controlled …

DEA to Cut Opioid Supply; Now Accepting Public Comments Read More »

Woman Dies After Ingesting High-Dose Caffeine. Why Aren’t Prohibitionists Calling for Coffee Ban?

Leave a Comment / Current Events, News / By

Rolling Stone reports a 21-year old University of Pennsylvania student died after consuming a high-dose caffeine drink at overpriced fast food chain Panera Bread. Branded as “Charged Lemonade”, the “drink has 390 milligrams of caffeine, which is close to the amount of caffeine in three Red Bulls”. Sarah Katz, a 21-year-old student at the University …

Woman Dies After Ingesting High-Dose Caffeine. Why Aren’t Prohibitionists Calling for Coffee Ban? Read More »

Federal Kratom Regulation Bill Introduced for 2023 Session

1 Comment / Current Events, News / By

Representative Mark Pocan (D-WI) and Representative Jack Bergman (R-MI) are sponsoring a bill in the US House (HB5905), and Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) is sponsoring a companion bill in the US Senate (SB3039) that would require the federal government to research and hold hearings on kratom, and limit the power of the Food and Drug …

Federal Kratom Regulation Bill Introduced for 2023 Session Read More »

Zachary, Louisiana Kratom Ban Hearing Scheduled for Today at 6:30pm CST

8 Comments / Current Events, General, News / By

The town council of Zachary Louisiana will hold a hearing today (Tuesday September 12, 2023) at 6:30pm CST at Council Chambers, 4700 Main Street to determine whether the possession and sale of kratom will be banned in the town. Kratom advocates are encouraged to contact the councilmember sponsoring this ban, Ambre Devirgilio at [email protected] as …

Zachary, Louisiana Kratom Ban Hearing Scheduled for Today at 6:30pm CST Read More »

Media Conflates Milder Kratom Leaf with Stronger Kratom Extract

6 Comments / Current Events, General, News / By

Recent media reports about kratom-related deaths are leaving out basic information about these tragic events. Preexisting conditions and possible drug interactions are sparsely mentioned or left out of reports entirely. Media is also using the term “kratom” to describe all products, from fresh leaf to extract to kratom products mixed with other substances (such as …

Media Conflates Milder Kratom Leaf with Stronger Kratom Extract Read More »

Kratom Vendor Who Lost $11 Million Lawsuit Failed to Launch a Defense

6 Comments / Current Events, General, News / By

Grow LLC, selling under the brand Kratom Distro, failed to show up in court to defend itself against the family of a Florida woman who died after ingesting “Space Dust”, a extremely strong kratom extract, sold to her by the company in a poorly labeled packet. On March 24, 2023, in the case of Devin …

Kratom Vendor Who Lost $11 Million Lawsuit Failed to Launch a Defense Read More »

Lawsuit Awards $11 million to Family of Woman Who Died After Taking Strong Kratom Extract

6 Comments / Current Events, General, News / By

Grow LLC, the company selling kratom under the vendor name “Kratom Distro”, has been ordered to pay $11 million to the family of Krystal Talavera, a Florida woman with pre-existing health conditions who died after ingesting “Space Dust”. Sold in an unlabeled package with no accompanying information, Space Dust has been reported to be an …

Lawsuit Awards $11 million to Family of Woman Who Died After Taking Strong Kratom Extract Read More »

Louisiana just passed a law regulating a nonexistent substance called “mitragynine speciosa”

6 Comments / Current Events, General, News / By

Pay attention to the spelling of the terms in italics, especially if you’re a Louisiana legislator. Mitragyna speciosa is the scientific term for kratom. Mitragynine is the term for an alkaloid in the kratom plant (usually the most abundant alkaloid present). Mitragynine speciosa is not a thing, but that didn’t stop it from being regulated …

Louisiana just passed a law regulating a nonexistent substance called “mitragynine speciosa” Read More »

Czech Republic Anti-Drug Coordinator Still Pushing for Kratom, Cannabis to Be Regulated

5 Comments / Current Events, General, News / By

Anti-Drug Coordinator of Czech Republic, Jindřich Vobořil, told the popular Czech news website Novinky.cz in an interview that he is still pushing for sensible regulation of kratom and cannabis. On Tuesday, June 20, Vobořil met with leaders of the government’s five-party coalition about his proposed regulation. Despite worry from one of the parties, Vobořil said …

Czech Republic Anti-Drug Coordinator Still Pushing for Kratom, Cannabis to Be Regulated Read More »

Let’s Look at the New Florida Kratom Consumer Protection Act

2 Comments / Current Events, News / By

Florida House Bill 179, the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA) was signed into law by Governor Ron Desantis on June 2, 2023. The law explicitly prohibits the sale of kratom to those under 21 years of age. It also prohibits adulterants that make the product stronger or more toxic, a level of 7-hydroxymitragynine that exceeds …

Let’s Look at the New Florida Kratom Consumer Protection Act Read More »