With the future of Kratom hanging in the balance, KTA has had one of its busiest months yet. We are working diligently on the federal level to defend consumer choice against H.R. 6, which includes the "Stop the Importation and Trafficking of Synthetic Analogues" (SITSA) Act and the “Stop Counterfeit Drugs by Regulating and Enhancing Enforcement Now” (SCREEN) Act. In other legislative news — t hanks to the hard work and diligence of advocates, legal professionals, and other groups in the Kratom community, Kratom remains legal in Tennessee, Kansas, and New York. We will continue to work on behalf of Kratom users in Louisiana and Georgia over the summer. We have a lot to do, so please share this update, tell your friends and colleagues about us, follow us on social media, and get the word out!
State Legislative News
Louisiana
In May, the Louisiana Legislature passed House Resolution No. 177. This resolution directed the Louisiana Department of Health to create a study committee to determine whether Kratom should be a controlled substance at the state level. The next step is for the State Department of Health to establish a working group to review all relevant research.

KTA has been in touch with the Louisiana Department of Health, who indicated that they will name the members of the study committee later this summer. The Department has committed to keeping us informed so that we can engage in discussions in advance of any meetings.
Georgia
Like Louisiana, the Georgia State Legislature called for a summer study committee to look into whether Kratom should be a controlled substance there. Georgia Representative Vernon Jones, an avid Kratom supporter, has been assigned to the committee and will make sure the proper facts and science are presented. We’re told the plan for study input includes hearings around the state and we will share more details once they are determined.
Tennessee
HB 1832/SB 2258, a bill that would have banned Kratom in Tennessee, was signed into law by Governor Haslam on May 21 with Kratom removed from the list of banned substances. The bill passed with an amendment that stipulates Kratom is legal in its raw powdered or crushed leaf forms for consumers over 21 and adds additional labeling requirements.
Kansas
After fierce debate, Governor Colyer signed SB 282, the Uniformed Controlled Substances Act, into law on May 14 with Kratom removed in the final version of the bill. Kratom remains legal in the state of Kansas.
New York
S6924 was passed by the state Senate on June 12. It was referred to the Assembly and onto the Health Committee. The bill prohibits the sale of Kratom to individuals under the age of 18; defines "Kratom" as any part of the plant Mitragyna Speciosa, whether growing or not, and any compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of such plant; and imposes a civil penalty of no more than $500 for the sale or provision of Kratom to any person under the age of 18. 
Federal Legislative News
KTA’s legal and policy teams, in partnership with other advocacy organizations, have been hard at work on federal bills like SITSA, the “Stop the Importation and Trafficking of Synthetic Analogues” Act, that could possibly be used to schedule Kratom nation-wide.

SITSA was added to H.R. 6., legislation that was recently passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. This bill combined 58 different bills, two of which are SITSA and the “Stop Counterfeit Drugs by Regulating and Enhancing Enforcement Now” (SCREEN) Act — both of which attempt to stop deadly synthetic opioids from being shipped into the U.S. However, these bills contain overly broad definitions of the substances covered and give the Attorney General overreaching authority that could be used to ban natural botanical plants and herbs without public input or challenge. This package of bills has been sent to the Senate, where amendments will be offered to exclude botanicals (SEE CALL TO ACTION BELOW).
KTA's First Membership Meeting
KTA held its first membership meeting on May 30, during which members met our partners and learned more about what they do for KTA and the Kratom industry.

The teams are:
  • Holland and Knight, who assist with legal matters and federal policy
  • National Strategies, who monitor government affairs and are “boots on the ground” for state and local lobbying
  • Collie Gorg Group, who handle the logistics of the association and its work
  • CURA Strategies, who coordinate all public relations, communications, and crisis management efforts

To see this and other past meetings please visit https://kratomtrade.org/past-meetings/

From May 15-16, KTA hosted a Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) training led by a premiere international GMP training and certification organization. The course was an overview of the CFR 211 GMP Training and covered how to appropriately make a batch and ensure sanitation and maintenance in facilities. It also summarized the supply chain in regards to co-manufacturer and suppliers. A total of 29 individuals with varying experience levels and backgrounds — professions including sales, warehouse workers and even company owners— attended the event, representing six different businesses.

Stay tuned for future dates! 
KTA is happy to be working with InstantGMP to offer our members access to its state-of-the-art software that organizes and manages manufacturing processes with the goal of improving batch quality and consistency. Right now, InstantGMP is offering KTA members 20% off of its entire catalog . Products and services include:
  • Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) – documents that help companies plan out their production
  • Full set: Over 110 documents
  • Core set: Over 20 documents
  • Holding & Distribution set: Documents for a holding and distribution company
  • InstantGMP™ MES – Quality and batch management software that helps companies better organize and manage their batches, as well as comply with GMP
  • InstantGMP™ INV – Inventory system
  • InstantGMP™ DMS – Document Management System (recommended to house SOPs)
  • Implementation Package – 200 hours of consulting from experts, operational analysis, planning for scaling operations, custom record templates, and general guidance

Look for our educational booth at the CHAMPS Trade Show, a huge business to business expo which draws a large contingency from the Kratom industry and hundreds of companies and stores, small and large, looking to carry the product. Learn about the many high-level projects and programs we’re working on to assist the industry and keep Kratom legal, plus how to become a KTA member at this critical time in Kratom history.
Membership Meeting
The next membership meeting will be held on July 25.
URGENT CALL TO ACTION — MADE EASY FOR YOU!
Use this link to contact YOUR Senators NOW and ask them to amend SITSA and SCREEN (passed by the House as part of the H.R. 6 package) to exclude natural plants and botanicals!

You can also dial 202-335-4747 to be connected.
BECOME A KTA BUSINESS MEMBER NOW!
Join the only organization exclusively for businesses in the Kratom Industry.
 
We are dedicated to protecting member importers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers from negative legislative and regulatory actions, and supporting KTA members by helping grow their businesses through educational programs and training.