news

THE UTAH STATE SENATE BUSINESS AND LABOR COMMITTEE FAVORABLY REPORTS SB 58, THE KRATOM CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT, ON A STRONG 5-1 BIPARTISAN VOTE AND ADVANCES THE BILL TO THE FULL SENATE.

The Utah Senate Business and Labor Committee issued a nearly unanimous endorsement of protecting consumers from adulterated and misbranded kratom products and affirmed the right of consumers to make informed decisions about the products they use for their health and well-being.  Senator Curt Bramble (R), the sponsor of SB 58, strongly called out the FDA for their dissemination of false safety data that demonized kratom and Senator Bramble cited the centuries of safe use by consumers of the natural kratom plant.

The lone dissenting vote, Senator Daniel McKay (R), emphasized that his vote was not against the use of kratom, but rather his personal view that no regulations should restrict consumer access to kratom. Senator Gene Davis (D) attempted to make the motion for the Committee to favorably report the bill to protect kratom consumers before having to leave for another Committee hearing, but was ruled out of order because the other Senators wanted to offer their own comments on the bill. Senator Davis had to leave the hearing without being able to vote in favor of the motion to favorably report the bill.

The Hearing room was packed with Utahns who wanted to express their support for protecting kratom consumers, and every citizen comment supported passage of the bill. One citizen, a professor at Brigham Young University, told the Committee that he had been motivated to come to speak because of media reports that claimed SB 58 would ban kratom. Other citizens offered powerful testimony on the value that kratom had in their own personal lives in managing their health and well-being.

The Kratom Consumer Protection Act will now move to the Senate Floor for consideration and will also be considered by the House Business and Labor Committee prior to full consideration by the Utah House of Representatives.

Senator Curt Bramble, who is the Chairman of the Senate Business and Labor Committee, but who had to recuse himself from the vote because he was the sponsor of the Kratom Consumer Protection Act, hailed the vote as a very important first step to sending a clear message to the FDA that the states will act to protect consumers and tell the truth about kratom.  Senator Karen Mayne (D), expressed support for consumers to make informed decisions about the ingredients in kratom products they buy. Senator Bramble also urged all Utah kratom consumers to continue their vocal support by contacting their legislators and ask them to support the Kratom Consumer Protection Act.

Authored by:

Mac Haddow, Senior Fellow on Public Policy