Current Events

Arkansas man sentenced to 10 years for “trafficking” kratom

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 …

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Cannabis, Psychedelics Reform on the Ballot in 6 States

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 …

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Lawsuit Slams Kratom Industry; Antihistamine Combined with Kratom Extract May Have Caused Death

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 …

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Rapides Parish, Louisiana Criminalizes Kratom Consumers

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. …

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Interview with International Drug Policy and Harm Reduction Expert Pascal Tanguay

This interview is the text version of the audio episode #66 of the Kratom Science Podcast, posted December 2, 2021. It’s been lightly edited for clarity in reading. Pascal Tanguay is originally from Montreal, Canada and has been living in Thailand for 20 years studying issues around people who use drugs, international and Southeast Asian …

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Bill introduced to Federally Legalize Cannabis in the USA

On July 21, 2022, Senator Cory Booker, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden introduced the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act which will “decriminalize and deschedule cannabis, to provide for reinvestment in certain persons adversely impacted by the War on Drugs, to provide for expungement of certain cannabis offenses”. Cannabis has been …

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NIDA is rolling out a massive nationwide study of regular kratom consumers

QR Code link https://enroll.drugabuse.gov/kratom-nida/ From the research team: About The KEMA Study We are conducting a new study on kratom entitled “Real-world momentary assessment of kratom use accompanied by product assays: A natural history study toward an interdisciplinary characterization of kratom use and pharmacology”! That is a long name, so we typically refer to it …

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Language Regulating Processors Stripped in Pennsylvania Kratom Consumer Protection Bill; Only Prevents Sales to Minors

6/21/2022 Pennsylvania’s “Kratom Consumer Protection Act”, HB2357, now only prohibits retailers from selling kratom to individuals under the age of 18. The bill, referred to Pennsylvania’s House Health Committee on March 8, 2022, previously contained language that would place regulations on kratom processors. The committee submitted the bill as amended on June 13, crossing out …

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Pennsylvania House Democrats Compare Kratom to Heroin in Pseudoscientific Tweet

On May 2nd, the Pennsylvania House Democratic Policy Committee @PADemPolicy posted on Twitter that it was “in Allentown with @RepSchlossberg for a roundtable on the Evolving Epidemic: Opioids and Treatment Options.” Then in a reply to this tweet, wrote “Kratom is widely available but suppresses breathing much the same way as heroin.” As anyone who …

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February 2022 Update on State Kratom Bills: Who’s Regulating? Who’s Banning?

*Information below Current as of February 8, 2022. Please see our Kratom Legality page, last updated 2/25/22 Here is a summary of recent and current actions being taken on kratom legislation on the state level. You can click on the bill number to be directed to the state’s webpage for that specific bill where you …

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