Introduction

With the sudden rise in popularity of Kratom in the US for the last two decades, there has been a lot of stigma and propaganda surrounding this beneficial botanical.

People are often misguided about its usage and benefits. This misinformation has led the authorities to try to outlaw this amazing herbal plant on several occasions.

The good thing is that many advocates and Kratom Gorillas supporters have come forward to actively participate in protecting consumer rights and educating the people with facts and scientific studies related to Kratom. One of the most prominent organizations supporting this cause and navigating the regulatory challenges is the American Kratom Association. 

In this article, we will be discussing the main goals of AKA, its participation in ongoing Kratom-related debates, and support for consumer protection practices. 

Let’s dig in!

What Is The American Kratom Association?

The American Kratom Association (AKA) is a non-profit organization that has been working towards keeping Kratom legal in the US and safeguarding consumers with its safe and regulated usage, since its inception in 2014. 

They have successfully protected user’s rights to safe and legal access to pure organic Kratom and created public awareness by educating the public about the benefits of this botanical backed by scientific facts and data, over the last ten years.

What Does The American Kratom Association Do?

The primary goal of AKA is to work towards a safe and better environment for all Americans, where they can safely consume Kratom Powder without the fear of any legal repercussions.

They have lobbied at various local, state, and federal levels to protect consumers’ right to access Kratom freely and prevent any ban or restrictions. 

In 2016, when the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) attempted to classify Kratom as a schedule 1 controlled substance, placing it alongside Heroine and LSD, AKA was the most prominent organization to oppose this law that could effectively ban the use, possession, buying, and selling of Kratom on a federal level.

They helped gather Kratom supporters, researchers, and advocates in huge numbers that were able to force DEA to withdraw the scheduling. 

Consumer Safety With KCPA

One of the most distinguished efforts by AKA to protect Kratom users is the presentation and implementation of the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA) which has made the safe regulation of the Kratom trade possible.

They have worked with several states to pass the KCPA as a part of legislation that includes a framework of regulatory guidelines. Utah was the first state to embrace this act, with many to follow –including Nevada, Georgia, Arizona, and others. 

Each state has its own version of KCPA, which has various modifications. The general provisions include:

• Proper packaging with appropriate labeling of Kratom Capsules products. 
• Implementing age restrictions for purchasing Kratom Extracts.
• Prohibiting any adulteration or contamination of Kratom Sample Pack products. 
• Mandatory registration of products, along with setting guidelines for manufacturing and distribution. 

GMP Compliance Program 

Another amazing feat of AKA is to design a GMP Compliance program to ensure the availability of safe, pure, and unadulterated Kratom to all users.

They have strategized a policy that reflects the FDA’s Good Manufacturing Practices for nutritional supplements but is modified specifically for US vendors selling Kratom products. 

AKA’s GMP program mainly entails quality assurance that ensures that Kratom products are consistently manufactured under set quality standards. It deals with managing raw materials and processing them in a way to avoid any contamination of heavy metals and pathogens to the maximum. 

A set of guidelines are provided to vendors to follow in the manufacturing, testing, packaging, labeling, storage, and distribution of Kratom products. The following are the guidelines for the GMP compliance program:

• Quality control should be ensured with the help of mandatory third-party audits. These audits should make sure that Kratom products are being manufactured in a sanitary environment and free of any contaminations. 
• Lab testing is also essential to check for any heavy metals and pathogens.
• Accurate percentage of active alkaloids should also be checked and mentioned. 
• Proper packaging and labeling of the Kratom products is mandatory. User guidelines, any warnings, and age restrictions should be clearly mentioned on the packages. 

Collaboration With Regulatory Agencies 

As an organization safeguarding Kratom users’ rights, it becomes necessary to work hand in hand with regulatory bodies –even, when at odds with them. AKA recognizes its duty to engage in healthy arguments and communication to dispel any misinformation surrounding Kratom. 

Previously in 2016, they successfully put a stop to DEA’s attempt to ban this beneficial botanical. They also remain vigilant to halt any attempts to outlaw Kratom use at state levels.

For example, in Florida, their active intervention with lawmakers prevented HB-183 from being passed, which entailed the addition of Kratom alkaloids to the list of Schedule 1 substances. 

AKA is constantly working with state governments to pass KCPA. Its regulatory guidelines are detailed enough to direct the Kratom brands and vendors to manufacture, market, and sell the botanical responsibly.

Program participants that are part of AKA’s GMP Qualified vendors are increasing day by day, as they themselves believe that their authenticity and customer trust in them builds up with the AKA’s stamp of approval.

Moreover, they also recognize that these consumer safety protocols make it easy for government bodies to work for the betterment of the Kratom community rather than banning or putting unnecessary restrictions on it. 

Creating Public Awareness

The American Kratom Association has also taken the responsibility to educate everyone in the US including the policy makers.

The misinformation and blatant propaganda concerning Kratom use have made it necessary to dispel the bad air surrounding this botanical that has made the lives of thousands of people pleasant. 

In November 2017, the FDA issued several warnings regarding Kratom use, referencing 36 deaths that were completely based on incorrect facts and misleading the general public.

AKA countered these false claims with science-backed facts that asserted Kratom being completely different from opioids and found it completely unrelated to the deaths caused. 

This was only one case, but AKA had to defend Kratom as a beneficial herb numerous times in the past years on multiple platforms.

It proves that education on Kratom is extremely crucial to dispelling false myths and the general fear in the public. For this reason, AKA organizes seminars and meetings every now and then, where open arguments are shared based on scientific facts and figures with balanced information emphasizing both the benefits and potential risks of its usage.

They also educate the users on responsible Kratom consumption with proper dosing and making informed decisions to avoid any misuse. 

AKA has always been an avid supporter of promoting Kratom-related scientific research. Studies evaluating its efficacy and safety profile are much needed and AKA realizes this passionately. This is the reason that they actively encourage participation of health organizations, researchers, and universities in collaborating research study programs, often funded by the association itself.

Global Awareness

AKA is getting courageous in its motives to promote safe access to Kratom not only in the US, but also on an international level.

Surprisingly, one of the major exporters of Kratom, Malaysia has completely banned Kratom use. Indonesia, supplying 90% of the world’s Kratom, also threatened to ban the botanical in 2019.

However, AKA went global with its advocacy missions and sent a delegation of legislators and health experts to change the Indonesian government’s mind and convince them to open their Kratom supply lines to America in the long run.

This move clearly shows that AKA is really passionate about supporting Kratom use and safeguarding consumers rights, all over the world. 

Conclusion 

The American Kratom Association is one of the biggest supporters of Kratom in the US that has been working diligently to educate the masses about its safe usage and dispel any misinformation surrounding it.

They have presented various policies and programs that promote regulation of Kratom for consumer safety, instead of outright banning it and robbing the users of its amazing benefits. They have come up with KCPA that protects consumers’ right to have safe access to legal and high-quality Kratom products.

This act, along with the Kratom cGMP program also compels the Kratom brands to adhere to quality standard protocols with proper testing and labeling to ensure delivery of only safe and pure Kratom to the users. 

If you believe in AKA’s goals and want to support them in this mission, you can donate money to them. Even a small donation can help them in fighting the legal battles effectively.