The Kratom Consumer Advisory Council (KCAC) today commended Gov. Kathy Hochul and members of the New York State Legislature for championing responsible kratom legislation that is rooted in science and respects the rights of law-abiding natural kratom leaf consumers.
KCAC singled out for praise an age gate measure, sponsored by state Sen. Patricia Fahy and Assemblymember John McDonald (Senate Bill S4552-A/Assembly Bill A2340-A), that would prevent youth access to kratom products, as well as a labeling bill, sponsored by state Sen. James Skoufis and Assemblymember Phil Steck (Senate Bill S8285/Assembly Bill A5852-A), that would institute labeling requirements to ensure New York consumers are equipped with the information they need to make informed purchases.
“We applaud Governor Hochul, Senators Fahy and Skoufis, and Assemblymembers McDonald and Steck for putting commonsense guardrails on the kratom industry while preserving safe, adult access to this centuries-old botanical,” said Dr. C. Michael White, KCAC’s Chair. “When kratom regulation is driven by discernment and facts, New York consumers and communities benefit.”
The KCAC has produced multiple position statements, informed by open dialogue with individuals on both sides of the kratom debate, on how to appropriately regulate natural kratom. The New York bills, signed into law pursuant to negotiated chapter amendments, align neatly with the recommendations made in these papers with regard to appropriate labelling, preventing youth access, and preserving adult access to natural kratom products. New York’s proposals are in line with the latest science and best consumer protection practices.
The New York measures come as other states take similar actions to preserve lawful, responsible access to natural kratom leaf. There is further opportunity in New York to crack down on concentrated synthetic 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) — a lab-made derivative that can be more potent than morphine and carries similar risks of dependence, respiratory depression, and overdose.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended in July that concentrated synthetic 7-OH be classified as a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act, and agency officials have emphasized they are not focused on regulating natural kratom leaf. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has not yet adopted the FDA’s scheduling recommendation for 7-OH.
To learn more about KCAC and its mission, navigate to globalkratomcoalition.org/about-kcac.
About Kratom Consumer Advisory Council (KCAC)
The Kratom Consumer Advisory Council (KCAC) is an independent board made up of a clinician-scientist and consumers that uses the strongest available evidence to produce position statements that promote evidence-based policy. The KCAC is supported by the Global Kratom Coalition, which advocates for regulations that protect consumers and curb the sale of adulterated or synthetic products falsely marketed as kratom. For more information, visit globalkratomcoalition.org/about-kcac.
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