JEFFERSON CITY, MO (KFVS) — More than 1.7 million Americans will use botanical kratom in 2021, according to a survey, but many are now concerned about the drug’s use and widespread availability.
The American Kratom Association recently issued a consumer advisory for companies that do not adhere to its standards.
What follows is a report that a woman in Florida died after taking a product that did not meet the association’s standards.
Kratom is an extract of the Mitraphyllum plant from Southeast Asia, a close relative of the coffee plant.
At higher doses, the drug can act like a drug, activating the same receptors as opioids, doctors say. In fact, one of its common uses is to alleviate opioid withdrawal.
There is a risk of side effects including hepatotoxicity, seizures, respiratory failure, and substance use disorders.
“The failure of the FDA today is their refusal to regulate kratom. That’s the problem,” said Mac Haddow, AKA Public Policy Fellow. “Kratom is a safe product when used responsibly, manufactured correctly and labeled appropriately. People need to know exactly how to formulate a product in order to realize the benefits it provides.”
Missouri legislators introduced a bill to regulate kratom statewide, but the bill did not get through the legislative process in time.
The General Assembly effectively passed the rules on the cut in 2022, but Gov. Mike Parson vetoed it. The Republican leader explained that this version of the law defines kratom as a food, which violates federal law.
Six states have banned kratom entirely, including Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin.