For Immediate Release:
April 3, 2024
Contact: Mac Haddow
Senior Fellow on Public Policy
American Kratom Association
Phone: 571-294-5978
mhaddow@americankratom.org
American Kratom Association Commends Leading Researchers
for New Statement Reporting on Current Kratom Science
Statement on Kratom Products and their US Regulation identifies the
progress of research that expands the public’s understanding of kratom and supports
consumer access based on responsible regulation of kratom products.
WASHINGTON, DC (April 3rd, 2024) – The American Kratom Association (AKA) encourages
legislators, policy makers, and all groups interested in kratom in America to thoughtfully
review the “Statement on science of kratom products and the US regulation” released by a
number of the leading kratom researchers in the world, Oliver Grundmann, PhD, FCP;
Christopher R. McCurdy, PhD, FAAPS; Abhisheak Sharma, PhD, and Kirsten Smith, PhD. The
statement provides a concise review of what is known and potential areas of future
research into kratom. This statement on the current state of kratom research supports the
conclusion that “US adults should have access to kratom products that are regulated.”
The new statement speaks to currently available kratom science, especially regarding the
primary kratom alkaloid, differentiates types of kratom products available to consumers in
America, and provides public policy makers a roadmap for appropriate regulation of kratom
products. The statement highlights the most important conclusions from research:
• Mitragynine is the major alkaloid in kratom and because of this, it has been the
subject of most scientific reports;
• Mitragynine is not a classical opioid, like morphine, but rather is unique in that it has
partial agonist activity and relatively low abuse liability;
• With a diverse kratom product marketplace in the US, it is important to distinguish
between products;
• In the years that kratom whole leaf and extract products have been sold in the US,
there have been, to date, few clinical case reports of adverse effects;
For Immediate Release:
April 3, 2024
2
• Like many psychoactive products (e.g., caffeine), kratom products can be habit-
forming as indicated by users who consume large quantities of kratom with greater
frequency over an extended period of time;
• The severity of physical dependence is mild to moderate;
• It is important to ensure consumers have access to kratom products that are
adequately labeled to inform their consumption;
• Based on the currently available scientific and public health knowledge about
kratom, we (the paper’s authors) believe that US adults should have access to
kratom products that are regulated.
An accurate review of the current science on kratom from America’s leading kratom
researchers is exactly what the kratom community, legislators, and public policy leaders
need. For the last decade media reports and the FDA has repeatedly released
sensationalized, misleading, and contradictory reports about kratom. The FDA itself has
relied on opinions on kratom that former Assistant Secretary of Health at HHS, Dr. Brett
Giroir, characterized as “embarrassingly poor evidence and data”1 in its prior
recommendations to schedule kratom under the federal Controlled Substances Act.
Unfortunately, the FDA continues to restate that discredited information on kratom that
materially misleads the public.
The AKA has consistently advocated for scientific findings to drive public policy on kratom
and encourages FDA officials, state and federal legislators, and the media to speak with
scientists and researchers to fully understand and appreciate what the current state of
research on kratom actually is. The AKA also supports continuing research on kratom.
America cannot afford more public policy, particularly in regard to natural products, that is
motivated by fear or designed to increase prohibitions and criminalization. Americans
deserve consumer protection policies driven by science.
The AKA applauds the extraordinary contribution made by these kratom experts to help
policy makers understand the most current science on kratom.
“Statement on the science of kratom products and their US regulation” can be read in its
entirety by visiting Americankratom.org/science or click here: Statement on Kratom Products and their US Regulation
1 https://twitter.com/DrGiroir/status/1395874443726102533
