Maryland Joins the Kratom Consumer Protection Act
A Good Reason to Be Proud of Our Home Base.
Hello Higher-Minded Humans,
One of the biggest reasons plant medicine stigmas continues to gain momentum is because of disinformation and misinformation. That stigma is compounded by the bad players who capitalize off of a plant medicine “fad” without any concern for customer safety. Kratom consumers know this all too well.
Luckily, activists have been working tirelessly for a long time to ensure that consumers can purchase kratom safely. For those who are unaware, the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA) was created as a direct response to states banning the plant, and it has been adopted by certain states.
From the American Kratom Association:
“Kratom has a complicated regulatory history in America. In 2016, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration announced their intentions to classify kratom as a Schedule I substance based on FDA recommendations. However, that was rescinded by the DEA following concerns raised by scientists, policymakers, and advocates.
In 2018, the Department of Health and Human Services formally withdrew a second FDA scheduling recommendation for kratom citing “the relative lack of evidence, combined with unknown and substantial risk to public health if these chemicals were scheduled at this time.” (Giroir withdrawal letter, August 16, 2018) In 2021, the World Health Organization Expert Committee on Drug Dependence, comprised of 12 independent scientists from around the globe, reviewed all of the evidence available on kratom and unanimously determined it did not meet the criteria for international scheduling.”
The KCPA is really unique because it addresses every concern kratom opponents have. It makes the buying process a lot less scary for the consumer, because it protects against dangerous chemicals and other unwanted additives. Additionally, it puts barriers in place to prevent potential abuse or overdose.
In April, Maryland became the 13th state to sign the KCPA, which means residents can look forward to clear labeling and safe options in retail spaces. And it means that advocates can feel more comfortable extoling the benefits of this awesome plant!
Stay tuned for a very special kratom project…
Until next time, stay high and beautiful.