Nevada Kratom Ban?

-Understanding the Kratom Consumer Protection Act and the proposed Ban in Nevada

The opioid epidemic is at an all time high. It is brutal, costly. It is killing tens of thousands of Americans a year. The dark days of the COVID pandemic has only made it worse.

We need an alternative. 

The Kratom Consumer Protection Act

Kratom has shown remarkable promise as a means to mitigate the opioid epidemic crisis. Not only do countless anecdotes exist in which the common theme of “kratom has saved my life” is repeated over and over again; viable research and numerous studies have begun to show the tremendous promise of kratom. 

Critics argue that we don’t know enough about kratom. The kratom community agrees. The community wants transparency. Millions of Americans have shared their story of how kratom has helped change their lives. They’ve quit opiates, managed chronic pain, and regained back control of their lives. Considering that no deaths have yet been linked to kratom use, and that kratom has been used for thousands of years medicinally and no obvious side effects manifest even in chronic users, this alone makes it of exceptional interest. Anything short of lethal is a viable solution to the scourge of opiates.

Kratom is widely legal. Most of the legal activity currently occurring in regards to kratom comes in the wake of the FDA’s failed attempt to ban in, in 2016. The decision was changed after dozens of bi-partisan legislators and millions of Americans rallied to support kratom and the good it has done. The “rebound effect” has seen the American Kratom Association accrue significant momentum.

The Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA) is a state-by-state legislative proposal that ensures kratom is properly regulated to ensure consumer protection. While the act does not explicitly require legalization, it is implied and widely understood amongst lawmakers that kratom is not to be criminalized. Kratom was under fire in 2016 mainly because an unregulated market saw a few bad actors lace their kratom with synthetic drugs or fail to pass basic food safety standards (The market has since culled these members out). Thus, where the regulation would ensure that no safety issues would exist, there would presumably be no reason to ban kratom.

Nevada and Kratom

Or not, says Nevada. In a senseless and bizarre campaign, the Nevada Pharmaceutical Board has since launched an effort the ban kratom. Although the KCPA has been passed in Nevada, the state does not seem to accept the spirit of the KCPA. While the process is due to see resistance, this sets a worrying precedent.

The KCPA did not include explicit legal protections due to the American Kratom Association not wishing to overplay its hand too early in the movement. Even still, the KCPA is still a very shrewd action. It protects kratom consumers and heads off any viable criticism that could be levied at kratom. Kratom is not a public health hazard, as the decisive reversal of 2016 demonstrated. Their push to ban kratom failed for this exact reason. Indeed, all evidence points to the contrary.

Nevada’s bizarre activity pushes a worrying precedent, should it proceed. Any reasonable observer is keen to question the intent. Speculation is inevitable without plausible reasoning.

The Nevada Pharmaceutical Board has vested interests in officially labelled medicines, like say – hey, like opiates. You don’t say?

And while no certain link exists between the Board and opiate sales in the state – like exists between the FDA and their golden goose of opiates – the motives leave us to wonder. The Nevada Board is offering no explanation as to the dangers of kratom (Surprise – ! There are none.) Yet with the American opiate epidemic at an all time high, and with kratom showing tremendous potential to aid in reducing the damning tragedy unfolding before us, we are left with little else in our attempts to understand. Unfortunately, the FDA has set our expectations; opiates are just too profitable, and kratom threatens that.

What next for Kratom in Nevada?

The Nevada Pharmaceutical Board will face opposition. It’s especially puzzling that they would defy the Nevada state legislative body in contradicting the spirit of the KCPA, which received the ever elusive bi-partisan support in passage. The Board has yet to offer compelling evidence or reasoning for their decision.

The AKA may have to adjust their strategy. Other states like Georgia who have passed the KCPA have respected the intent and boundaries of the KCPA. But the American Kratom Association may have to add more specific language to ensure that a rogue legislative body cannot derail the efforts of the kratom community. 

The AKA will fight this. The citizens of Nevada will fight this. But as a community, we must stand with Nevada. Call this number to reach the Board and tell them about how Kratom has helped you:  (775) 850-1440

A united public was the tip of the spear in 2016, and must continue its thrust. This regressive, damaging proposal will have a human cost. In 2020, we cannot tolerate any more unnecessary loss of American life.

Godspeed, Nevada.

Peace and Love.