Great news!!!!

[acejestyr15]

The Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018 (S. 2680), the Senate’s version of H.R. 6, the Support for Patients and Communities Act, has been finalized and is expected to be brought for a vote this week. This legislation is intended “to provide for opioid use disorder prevention, recovery, and treatment, and for other purposes.”

Through the concentrated and effective efforts by several Kratom advocacy groups including the Kratom Trade Association engaging and educating legislators, the Kratom community has successfully prevented language that would have allowed the DEA to schedule Kratom from being included in the bill.

Specifically, the legislation does not contain any provisions that restrict Kratom consumption or use, nor does it contain any reference to Kratom or botanical substances. This is a significant win for the Kratom community, and it is all thanks to the tireless efforts of Kratom advocates and cooperation among our fellow Kratom organizations. While we must remain vigilant, the Kratom community has proven that we can make a difference in preserving the legality of this natural option for managing health and wellbeing.

KTA continues to monitor federal, state and local legislation and ordinances that would restrict Kratom, to educate decision makers about the benefits of Kratom and dispel misconceptions, and to develop reasonable regulations based on science and safety that will preserve safe and responsible Kratom consumption for millions of Americans.


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.
MEMBERSHIP

Kratom Trade Association | (202) 827-0909 | www.KratomTrade.org
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Kratom Trade Association
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Warrenton, VA 20186

[whiffypants]

From the KTA website:

Membership Guidelines
General Qualifications and Rules

1. All members are companies and must have valid business status in their state or province.

2. If a company has multiple locations, each location must become a separate member to receive benefits, however discounts may be given for multiple locations describe below.

5. If a member active status which lapses more than 60 days without renewal or appropriate dues payment, then the member will be suspended. Reactivation of member benefits will require all applicable dues to be paid.

It's pretty clear that this is not for individuals. Unless you are a business with a business license and meet the legal qualifications to be considered a business in the state in which you are incorporated, plus pay the monthly fees for membership, the Kratom Trade Association isn't an organization you can join.

A quick read of their site reveals that they take a great deal of credit for what the AKA has done in terms of getting petitions and protests out there, which I find less than credible: I've personally seen (and participated in) many an effort directly from the AKA, and zero from this kratom trade organization. I'm not saying they're not active, but I haven't seen evidence of it.

Do what you want, but I'll continue to support the AKA. As far as I can personally see, the AKA is doing the most -- and they don't require me to be a business or to pay fees for membership.


From Sebastian Guthery's site (the founder of the KTA, apparently):

During a recent public commenting period opened by the Food and Drug Administration, nearly 40,000 vocal supporters of kratom responded, including members of the law enforcement, medical, and scientific research communities. Thanks to the KTA and allied organizations, kratom continues to be available to consumers. On the state level, several states have banned kratom, while others agreed to keep kratom legal for adults. Again, KTA and its supporters were instrumental in preventing this natural botanical substance from becoming illegal in states like Tennessee and Kansas.

Breaking Through

Without the leadership of Guthery and the KTA, government agencies may have succeeded in their ban. Hampering continued access to kratom products. Further, his passion of helping to preserve kratom through a combination of education, advocacy, and public support will continue to be a priority. And lastly, he has demonstrated that he is a valuable participant in the ongoing legal battle.

The man ain't modest, is he.

[acejestyr15]

The purpose of my posting this was merely to spread the news that kratom should no longer be in danger is all.

[whiffypants]

Cool, appreciate it. Shouldn't we wait for the vote, though?

[BallzDeep9]

From Sebastian Guthery's site (the founder of the KTA, apparently)

hoo boy, there's so much bullshit involved in this guy and that organization .. Hard to know where to start

KTA is only a few months old. Guthery IS an original backer of AKA, and he's a big headshop kratom profiteer, "legal high" drug pusher of sorts, going way way back. Reddit Search ought to have more background.

KTA represents the Retail headshop dirtbags who sell kratom pills in bottles, to dopers and kiddies, at local gas stations for HUGE price markups

[whiffypants]

hoo boy, there's so much bullshit involved in this guy and that organization .. Hard to know where to start

I'm getting that strong impression, yeah. But hey, without HIS leadership...

KTA is only a few months old.

But they claim a lot more than that without giving any specifics at all, which is what really got my attention. They're "monitoring" the legal situation (aren't we all?), "educating" legislators (who? when? how?), "supporting" research (what research? by whom? supporting how?), etc. Lots of feelgood jargon, lots of self-promotional language, and no supporting facts.

KTA represents the Retail headshop dirtbags who sell kratom pills in bottles, to dopers and kiddies, at local gas stations for HUGE price markups

I don't see the real vendors we know and love having either the time or money for KTA, to be honest. Pretty sure it's a feelgood org to raise cash amongst themselves and lobby for their own specific interests when that time comes. Right now that means keeping kratom legal for everyone, sure, but once that's a done deal it's pretty certain they will begin lobbying for legislation that will allow them to control the kratom market in the US.

We already got a taste of that from Kelly Dunn in A Leaf of Faith, IMO, especially toward the end of the film, and the clue is in the KTA's own banner verbiage: KTA is committed to regulatory compliance and will develop and promote use of best practices and quality standards for the industry. Right now, there is no regulation with which to comply, which means they want to be at the table when it is drawn up and ensure it is profitable for them. Quality and testing are admirable goals, but I think it's safe to say they're not in it for that. They want to price other vendors out of the market and use emerging legislation to do it, IMO.

But I guess we shall see.

[kenibal6]

The purpose of my posting this was merely to spread the news that kratom should no longer be in danger is all.

You mean Kratom is useful for the people right?

[acejestyr15]

The purpose of my posting this was merely to spread the news that kratom should no longer be in danger is all.

You mean Kratom is useful for the people right?

Yes of course! What did you think that meant???