news
February 5, 2020
Major Maryland Victory & Ongoing Legislative Activity Across America
Mac Haddow, Senior Fellow on Public Policy
MARYLAND HOUSE AND SENATE JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE’S “STRIKE” KRATOM BAN,
REPLACE WITH KCPA PROVISION ON AGE RESTRICTION ON KRATOM FOR UNDER 21
The threat of a ban on kratom in Maryland was eliminated when a bevy of pro-kratom consumers made the case that kratom was safe when used responsibly, it was helping many consumers to avoid highly-addictive and potentially deadly opioids, and was saving the lives of many who suffered from health conditions and pain management.
In the end, both Senator Young’s kratom ban, SB0147, and Delegate Kerr’s kratom ban, HB0283, both were officially “struck” – meaning the kratom ban bills were removed – and both bills were replaced with an important part of the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA) providing an under 21 age restriction on the purchase of kratom. Key legislators expressed an interest in working on adding provisions of the KCPA to protect consumers from adulterated kratom products.
You can watch the House Judiciary Committee Hearing at the following link (the Kratom Ban, HB0283, starts at about 3:02):
Maryland House Judiciary Committee February 4, 2020
Please note the powerful testimony of dozens of kratom advocates who provided moving testimony on how kratom has positively impacted their lives. It was an honor be in Annapolis with each of those brave, courageous kratom consumers.
The American Kratom Association was asked by several legislators to work with them and the Executive Branch in designing the best regulatory scheme for Maryland to protect against adulterated kratom products.
OREGON KCPA HB 4013 HEARING ON MONDAY, FEB. 3, SHOWS STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE KCPA
Kratom advocates found the Oregon Economic Development Committee to be receptive to implementing the Oregon KCPA. AKA’s representative, Lora Romney, member of the AKA National Kratom Consumer Advisory Council, reported that committee members were very interested in hearing how consumers can have access to pure, unadulterated kratom.
It was also very clear that these legislators were not going to be intimidated by the FDA and their anti-kratom disinformation campaign. Once again the kratom advocates won the day with powerful testimonials on how kratom has had a positive impact on their personal lives.
The AKA will keep everyone posted on the next actions by the Oregon Legislature.
MISSOURI KCPA BILL RUNS INTO FIERCE FDA OPPOSITION
The FDA is going on the attack in Missouri, but AKA’s lobbyists held their ground in a contested Hearing on February 4 and the KCPA was approved by the Legislative Oversight Rules Committee on a 6-4 vote.
Representative Phil Christofanelli’s Kratom Consumer Protection Act will now move to further consideration by the Missouri House and additional information will be provided to the kratom advocates when the next Hearing is scheduled.
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