Governor of Connecticut just signed Stealth bill that Bans Kratom as Schedule 1

[brassy]

CT was a pro kratom consumer protection state but the kratom ban was tacked onto a completely unrelated bill called AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER PROTECTION'S RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING DRUG CONTROL AND CANNABIS AND HEMP REGULATION. It's here: https://www.cga.ct.gov/2025/ACT/PA/PDF ... 855-PA.PDF
Anyhow, by the time it was spotted, it was too late for there to be a major groundswell of negative public opinion. Governor Ned Lamont signed it into law today and that is especially discouraging since he is progressive on a lot of issues. If Connecticut can fall this quickly, the entire tristate area could become a kratom dead zone.
Anti-Kratom business interests now know there is a much easier way to reach their goals than to tackle kratom head on.

Here is a cut & paste of the section that pertains to kratom (note that they also threw in a bunch of other formerly legal herbal products including salvia).

(i) (1) The Commissioner of Consumer Protection shall, by regulation adopted pursuant to this section, designate the following substances, by whatever official, common, usual, chemical or trade name designation, as controlled substances and classify each such substance in the appropriate schedule: [(1)] (A) 1-pentyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole (JWH-018); [(2)] (B) 1-butyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole (JWH-073); [(3)] (C) 1-[2-(4-morpholinyl)ethyl]-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole (JWH200); [(4)] (D) 5-(1,1-dimethylheptyl)-2-[(1R,3S)-3-hydroxycyclohexyl]- phenol (CP-47,497); [(5)] (E) 5-(1,1-dimethyloctyl)-2-[(1R,3S)-3-hydroxycyclohexyl]- phenol (cannabicyclohexanol; CP-47,497 C8 homologue); [(6)] (F) Salvia divinorum; and [(7)] (G) Salvinorum A. (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, the commissioner shall, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, amend the regulations adopted pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection to designate the following substances, by whatever official, common, usual, chemical or trade name designation, as controlled substances and classify each such substance in the appropriate schedule: (A) 7-hydroxymitragynine; (B) Bromazolam; (C) Flubromazolam; (D) Mitragyna speciosa (kratom), including its leaves, stem and any extracts; (E) Nitazenes, including, but not limited to, isotonitazene; (F) Tianeptine; and (G) Phenibut. (j) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, the Commissioner of Consumer Protection shall designate the following substances, b ywhatever official, common, usual, chemical or tradename designation, as controlled substances in schedule I of the controlled substances scheduling regulations:(1) Mephedrone (4-methylmethcathinone);(2) Synthetic cannabinoids; and(3) MDPV (3,4-methyenedioxypyrovalerone)

I will be moving from CT very soon but this ban bodes very poorly for the rest of the country.

[Silverstone]

My understanding of what I read in this Bill is that they are proposing that it be "scheduled"- but not specifically Schedule 1. There is a huge difference between Schedule 1 drug legality vs Schedule 5 drug legality. This bill is still not good, regardless....

[Sanbutsushin]

I'm from CT too and have been keeping an eye on this. The silver lining is that it's not actually scheduled just yet, and we certainly don't know that it'll be schedule 1; no reason to assume that it will be until we hear from the DCP. But there's not been a great deal of clarity on whether we have until October before the DCP acts on it, or whether they can (or will) move forward with that much sooner. The AKC's email says October, but the language in the bill itself had some bits effective immediately, from what I saw. Legalese isn't exactly my wheelhouse so I dunno.

Obviously I don't want to see it scheduled at all. I did my part calling and emailing reps and the governor, nothing else I can do but slow down, stock up and keep an eye on whatever developments unfold.

But, yeah. To put it lightly, this still really sucks.

[e_poison]

The AKA just sent out an email about this. I’m going to research this a bit to see what’s going on here. But, from a quick glance it looks like there’s some really sneaky stuff going on with this bill (Substitute House Bill No. 6855). Seems it was actually a cannabis bill and then they added kratom to it with zero notice or public debate.

[Sanbutsushin]

The AKA just sent out an email about this. I’m going to research this a bit to see what’s going on here. But, from a quick glance it looks like there’s some really sneaky stuff going on with this bill (Substitute House Bill No. 6855). Seems it was actually a cannabis bill and then they added kratom to it with zero notice or public debate.

I think I just got that same email! Yeah, it was definitely sneaky. It seems like most people had no idea it was even a proposed part of the bill until it was already up for vote in the senate. Blindsided me for sure.

[KratomSavesLives24/7]

You should go to these companies and peoples post on here that are advertising and talking about 7oh and give them a big thank you. 7oh is the reason kratom is starting to get banned.

[Pixiedust]

You should go to these companies and peoples post on here that are advertising and talking about 7oh and give them a bug thank you. 7oh is the reason kratom is starting to get banned.

I have been saying that from quite some time and unfortunately, I get backlash on it. It's the reality of things though. We keep seeing it pop up in bills but yet I see so many people rave about it. Does it help some people? I can't say that it doesn't. It's the people that it gets ahold of that worries me. I've been seeing a lot of videos on 7oh on tiktok. Mainly people struggling to get away from it. It's sad. I know we can't change minds, but we can lead people to resources and educate them.