Kratom activists had until August 24 to submit comments to the FDA on a potential international ban. Tens of thousands of comments flooded the FDA site along with the American Kratom Association (AKA)’s site regarding the ban. 63,000 comments on the AKA’s site shared personal stories, scientific studies and literature, and recommendations for the FDA to oppose an international ban on kratom. Furthermore, the FDA’s site itself gathered around 26,000 comments, resulting in nearly 80,000 comments on the FDA’s kratom ban. 

History

Kratom is traditionally found in Asian medicine as a painkiller. It acts similar to opioids by attaching to the same nerve detectors in the brain. This points to the possibility of addiction and dependency on kratom. Because of the current opioid epidemic in the U.S., the FDA is looking into banning kratom from public access. 

“Kratom is abused for its ability to produce opioid-like effects,” FDA wrote in a notice on the comment period last month. “Kratom is available in several different forms to include dried/crushed leaves, powder, capsules, tablets, liquids, and gum/ resin. (It) is an increasingly popular drug of abuse and readily available on the recreational drug market in the United States.”

Currently, kratom is sold over the counter as a supplement, and advertised as a healthier and safer alternative to opioids. Plus, kratom supposedly helps reduce addiction levels. There is currently not enough scientific evidence to support these claims, but anecdotal evidence from consumers say kratom has helped them recover from addiction and rediscover life. 

Activists

It seems kratom activists have no faith in the FDA to listen to their comments. 

“The FDA is attacking the right of every American to make their own decisions about their health and well-being, and we have to send a strong message to the WHO to stand up against the unfair treatment of the FDA for any natural product, including kratom,” Mac Haddow, senior fellow on public policy at the AKA, said in a press release.

“It’s clear that, even though we got the extended [comment] period, there’s no good faith here by the FDA,” Haddow continued. “There’s no question where the FDA is. We could have a million comments and it won’t change them. They’re going to continue to recommend that kratom should be scheduled and banned, not only here in the United States, but globally.”

WHO

The FDA began gathering comments to send off to the World Health Organization (WHO)’s Expert Committee on Drug Dependency. In October, the WHO committee will be meeting to discuss the FDA’s recommendation to internationally ban kratom. Other countries can submit comments as well.

The AKA isn’t stopping their collection of comments. Until September 20, they will continue to collect comments to submit to the WHO’s committee asking them to not ban kratom. 

For now, kratom remains legal in the U.S. as the FDA failed to ban the plant in the states. When more information becomes available, we will update you with the latest.

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