General

“Congressional Briefing on Kratom Science and Policy” to Be Held in Washington Dec 13 Ahead of Federal KCPA

On Wednesday December 13, 2023 at 11:30 AM- 1:00PM a Congressional Briefing on Kratom Science and Policy will be held in Capitol Visitors Center. Room 210/12, Reception Room 385, Russell Senate Office Building. Speakers include Director of NIDA Dr. Nora Volkow , Dr. Kirsten Smith of Johns Hopkins, and Dr. Mary Huestis of Thomas Jefferson …

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Johns Hopkins Requesting Participation of Kratom Consumers in a New Survey

tinyurl.com/jhusupplementsurvey The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine is seeking volunteers to complete an online survey study about substance use. We want to learn more about experiences with novel or less commonly used substances, such as kratom, kava, akuamma seed, and tianeptine. If you have used these substances, you may be eligible to complete the …

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AKA Responds to Farmers Co-ops, Denies Buying Kratom from Farmers, Processors

Last week, news from CNN Indonesia and other sources reported that two Indoneisan farmers groups, PPHI and KOPRABUH, were calling on their president to pause kratom exports until trade regulations can be implemented. They accused kratom vendors and the American Kratom Association (AKA) of breaking agreements, and engaging in direct transactions with farmers in order …

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Indonesian Kratom Farmers Seek to Pause Exports to the US

Farmers’ groups accuse American kratom industry, AKA of unfair business practices that keep prices, quality low ***Update 12/4/23 AKA has responded to these allegations. Two cooperatives representing Indonesian farmers are calling on their government to stop kratom exports to the United States until agreed-upon trade regulations are in place. On November 13, 2023, the Indonesian …

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Man Held in Arkansas Jail for 8 Months on Kratom Charge for Carrying Moringa

  “In April of 2022, he was arrested for having kratom. And the kratom turned out not to be kratom.” In a video posted on Facebook by Attorney W. Whitfield “Whit” Hyman on November 21, 2023, Hyman speaks on the case of Scott Cook, who is sitting in the passenger seat of Hyman’s vehicle. Cook …

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Isolated 7-hydroxymitragynine Now Being Sold in Tablets and Liquid Shots

Companies are now selling isolated 7-hydroxymitragyinine in a grey marketplace that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) refuses to regulate. Found in near-zero amounts in plain leaf kratom, 7-hydroxymitragyinine has been shown in animal studies to have enormous dependency potential. Obeng et al 2020 demonstrated that while mitragynine, kratom’s most abundant alkaloid, has “a complex …

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DEA to Cut Opioid Supply; Now Accepting Public Comments

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is threatening to cut the supply of opioids at a time when pain patients are struggling to access treatment, and illicit opioids are becoming more potent. The DEA is receiving public comments on the proposed cuts at this link:  https://www.regulations.gov/document/DEA-2023-0150-0001 . Comments are due by December 4, 2023. The Controlled …

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Kratom Shown to Inhibit Fat, Glucose Accumulation In Vitro

Note: We report on ongoing science. Not enough evidence has been established to conclude that kratom or mitragynine is an effective treatment for any disease. Scientists have discovered that kratom can inhibit enzymes that play a role in fat absorption. In an in vitro study, scientists found that mitragynine is a potent inhibitor of lipase, …

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Scientists: Kratom Extract “A Blessing and a Curse”

In a letter to the journal Addiction, kratom scientists including Oliver Grundmann, Christopher McCurdy, Abhisheak Sharma, Kirsten Smith, and Marc Swogger emphasized that kratom leaf, sold in crushed or dried for in the West and used for at least hundreds of years in Southeast Asia, is different from kratom alkaloid extract products, manufactured recently and …

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Zachary, Louisiana Kratom Ban Hearing Scheduled for Today at 6:30pm CST

The town council of Zachary Louisiana will hold a hearing today (Tuesday September 12, 2023) at 6:30pm CST at Council Chambers, 4700 Main Street to determine whether the possession and sale of kratom will be banned in the town. Kratom advocates are encouraged to contact the councilmember sponsoring this ban, Ambre Devirgilio at [email protected] as …

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