Once Again, Kratom is Under A New Threat by the FDA

The story of the proposed kratom ban in the US started in 2016. At that time, the FDA and DEA revealed their intention to classify kratom as a schedule 1 controlled substance. Because kratom science was still in its infancy at the time, the FDA was free to spread grossly false kratom information.

What’s the end result? Six states had passed kratom bans by the end of the year, and several more were considering it. State authorities, who were expecting a federal kratom ban from FDA, had no idea about it. It was going on behind the scenes in our community.

Our leader was the AKA (American Kratom Association), and we moved quickly. Over 100,000 US kratom users, as well as multiple members of Congress, doctors, attorneys, and cops, signed a petition. The petition was to overturn the FDA-proposed ban in just a few weeks.

The DEA withdrew its recommendation in the face of widespread public outcry. Hence kratom became the first plant ever to be removed from this procedure. The story, however, does not end there.

Also Read: 4 Economic Values of Jungle Kratom from Its Ecological Perspective

The FDA’s Long-Term Battle to Ban Kratom

From 2017 to 2020, the FDA battle for kratom was limited to local governments and state governments. Kratom supporters, led by the AKA, fought tooth and nail to keep kratom safe from the FDA raging claws.

This time, five states enacted the Kratom Consumer Protection Act, which established standards to ensure that kratom was supplied in a safe manner (i.e., without adulterants, clean, etc.) and to safeguard it from future bans.

In 2021, proponents of kratom faced their toughest test yet from the FDA: an imminent international ban. The FDA was advocating the WHO and the UN to add kratom to the international list of restricted chemicals. It was essentially circumventing the democratic systems in place to impose regulations on American residents.

As a result of this attack, kratom proponents remained firm and eventually persuaded the WHO and UN that kratom was not a harmful substance.

Also Read: A Complete Overview on Kratom Legal Standing in Indonesia

2022 Proposed Kratom Ban, FDA Still Playing Dirty Scheme

Many of us assumed that the possibility of kratom bans had come to an end. On a municipal, federal, and now worldwide level, the FDA has failed to schedule kratom. What other option did they have? They were at a loss for what to do. Instead of acknowledging that they were wrong about kratom, they decided to keep playing nasty.

The FDA is now asking Congress for more authority. The FDA is currently pressing Congress to “reauthorize the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, or PDUFA, and suggested revisions to it might give the FDA the authority to deny registration of all dietary supplements, thereby banning all kratom products”. Of course, the question is “What can we do about it?”

The most important thing you can do is engage your local congressman to oppose the FDA’s attempt to grow power! It’s also simpler than it appears. Simply click the link below to use the AKA’s gateway to contact your congressional representative and request that they vote nay on this bill!

CLICK HERE TO WRITE CONGRESS

Also Read: Why is Kratom Banned? 8 Reasons Why It Shouldn’t Be

Conclusion

The FDA is currently urging Congress to reauthorize the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, or PDUFA. However, history proves that a mass-signing petition can repeal the proposed ban. In 2016, the FDA and the DEA declared kratom as a restricted substance. But in just a few weeks, the DEA withdrew the decision.