advocacy

What We Say: How and Why Kratom Advertising Is Restricted

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Kratom is classified as a food in many parts of the United States. This classification puts limitations on what we as kratom vendors can and cannot say about our products. The FDA limits what is permitted, and we must follow those guidelines if we want to be able to continue to market and sell our products legally.

How exactly do these restrictions come into play, and why aren’t we fighting against them?

Let’s talk about kratom, kratom labeling, and how advocacy organizations are working to improve the misinformation surrounding kratom.

What Can And Cannot Be Said

Ultimately, the FDA has made it clear that they are willing and able to send cease-and-desist letters to any kratom vendor that is publishing what they deem to be unsubstantiated claims.

Even in the articles that we publish, we have to be careful about our language and how we talk about kratom.

In the past, companies selling kratom have made huge claims about what kratom can do, and the FDA pushed back against these. But it wasn’t only bold claims that the FDA warned about; simple, seemingly common knowledge statements have also attracted their attention. 

Risky Statements

What type of statements do we have to be careful about when using on our site? There are many, and it is also difficult for us to follow these limitations. We want to be as open, clear, and helpful as possible for our customers, but FDA rules make this difficult at times.

These are just a few examples of statements that have got kratom vendors into trouble with the FDA in the past:

  • Claiming that people use kratom as an alternative to some medications.
  • Claiming that people prefer kratom over their other medication options.
  • Claiming that people use kratom to help them stop using other things.
  • Claiming that kratom has specific benefits.

We know that these examples are vague, and that is intentional as not to catch ourselves in this trap. As you can see from the breadth of those examples, however, it becomes difficult for honest vendors like ourselves to share any information or evidence with our customers without risking trouble.

What Are Unsubstantiated Claims?

Let’s talk a little more specifically about what the FDA considers “unsubstantiated claims,” which is the most common reason they send out warning letters. We’ve given a few vague examples above, but let’s look at direct news from the FDA to see how they frame their approach.

Specifically, a press report from the FDA states the following:

  • Vendors are selling kratom “with deceptive medical claims for which there’s no reliable scientific proof to support their use.”
  • Vendors “ take advantage of consumers by selling products with unsubstantiated claims that they can treat opioid addiction.”

If the FDA is truly against products that are not backed by science and willing to support kratom research, that would be an understandable position. However, the statement goes on to say that Kratom is an “opioid analog that may actually contribute to the opioid epidemic,” which may be an unsubstantiated claim by the FDA’s own rules.

Additionally, the FDA report states that the FDA is willing to look into how kratom may or may not relieve pain or opioid addiction symptoms if people believe that kratom’s active ingredients show that potential. However, the AKA states that FDA has refused to support that type of research for years.

Simultaneously, the National Institute on Drug Abuse has refused to support scheduling kratom as a drug because NIDA’s own research has not borne out that claim according to NIDA’s standards.

As you can see, it is a very confusing field for kratom vendors like ourselves to navigate. Our goal is always to provide safe, high-quality products to our customers. We want to support those products with information, but it isn’t always an easy thing to do.

The Standards We Follow

How do we handle the labeling and advertising of our products when faced with limitations and concerns about what we can and cannot say?

As members of the American Kratom Association’s GMP Compliance Program, we ensure that our labeling fits these things’ standards. AKA is up-to-date with the FDA’s latest requirements, and they are also at the forefront of helping to implement Kratom Consumer Protection Acts in states across the country.

In short, they know what they’re talking about when it comes to labeling, advertising, and more.

As of June 2020, the compliance program has laid out the following guidelines for vendors and marketing:

  • Labels may not include:
    • Any disease-related or unauthorized health claims
    • Any reference to a “high”
    • Any reference to clinical or research data
  • Labels must:
    • Be fully compliant with FDA claim rules
    • Include a batch or lot number
    • Affirm that mitragynine and 7-OH alkaloids haven’t been altered from their original allocation
    • Advise consumers to talk to a physician about dosing
    • Include a statement that pregnant women should not use kratom
    • Include this exact statement:  “This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or condition.”

These same rules apply to the descriptions, websites, and advertisements used when marketing kratom products.

New: The Truth in Labeling Program

Recently, the American Kratom Association has started a reporting program known as the Truth in Labeling Program.

Due to the rise in vendors directly going against the guidelines expected by the FDA, the American Kratom Association and other advocates have seen a need for a program to keep track of and improve improper labeling practices.

Through this program, the AKA hopes to educate vendors that are putting the industry at risk through dishonest practices. If the vendors refuse to change their ways, the industry will start to self-regulate by reporting offenders to the FDA. To read more about how or why the Truth in Labeling Program is meant to work, you can check out AKA’s statement.

How COVID-19 Changed Kratom Advocacy (And What You Can Do)

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The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is changing the way that many aspects of the world work. While many industries are becoming more streamlined and continue functioning without problems, the same cannot be said about how kratom advocacy will fare as we move into the new future.

Traditionally, kratom advocacy has relied on meeting with politicians, local leaders, town hall meetings, and other types of events that aren’t happening as frequently in the current climate.

To put it bluntly, kratom advocacy has changed dramatically.

What can be done to ensure that advocacy for kratom doesn’t disintegrate during these difficult times? Today, we’ll talk about how you can continue to advocate for kratom throughout the pandemic.

Problem: False Claims About Kratom & COVD-19

One problem that could shed a negative light on the kratom industry at large as the claim that is being made by some uninformed vendors that kratom can be used to positively treat or protect against COVID-19. This claim has no basis in reality, and it should not be spread.

Misinformation such as this type of rumor can severely damage the overall credibility of kratom and what it can actually do for people. Vendors that use this type of rhetoric to try to drive sales during a pandemic are part of the problem, and it’s important to look out for this type of predatory behavior.

Additionally, the FDA has been known in the past to actively work against the kratom community. The FDA has already given a warning to some CBD vendors for false COVID-19-related claims, so it is important that kratom vendors do not attract negative attention by making such claims.

Solution: Look For Honest Vendors

Honest vendors that make sure their practices align with current and factual science will not use these types of false claims in their marketing, and they will always do their part to represent kratom in an honest way. By supporting vendors that rely on science and high-quality testing, you will be supporting the future and growth of the kratom industry.

If you buy from vendors that use underhanded tactics or spread false information about kratom, you may be accidentally contributing to the culture that will harm society’s view of kratom in the long run.

Take time to research vendors before purchasing, and try to only support vendors that use honest science. Additionally, consider reporting any vendors that you see making false COVID-19 claims to an organization like the American Kratom Association that might be able to reach out to the vendor to try to get them to change their stance. While the vendor may not be receptive to those types of changes, it is always worth the attempt.

Problem: Scientific Backlash

As fears that are rooted in the uncertainty of the current world take hold, many pseudo-science theories are becoming popular. They get spread around social media with little vetting, and many people become fearful of these unsubstantiated “facts” that they see in the latest popular image.

The problem here is that these rumors are rarely, if ever, rooted in science. As people realize this, they become more and more unlikely to believe anything they see online. Whether or not the information is factual, it’s hard to know if the anecdotal experience you read about online is true.

In the past, many kratom users would share their stories with others to explain what their experiences have been like. That form of advocacy, however, is less effective in today’s online world due to the uncertainty of information.

Solution: Know Your Facts

If you want to share your stories about kratom online as a means of advocating for its benefits, it is important that you know what the facts of kratom are and what current research says about its uses. By knowing this information, you can include important, fact-driven messages in your anecdotes as well, and that will make your overall message more reliable.

Of course, you cannot be expected to know everything that is going on in the world of kratom!  For information about the latest research and facts about kratom, check out the complete blog that we have on our Left Coast Kratom resources page.

Problem: Limited Political Meetings

Much of the advocacy that is done to improve the legal issues that surround using kratom in America are done through political meetings on the local, state, and national level. As COVID-19 has caused many social distancing measures to be put in place around the country, the opportunities for these types of political issues to be limited if not for emergency situations.

This means that the advocacy groups that have been working on the full legalization of kratom and protections for kratom users are being limited in what they can do, and it will take time for new methodologies of handling advocacy to emerge.

Solution: Support AKA & Other Advocacy Groups

Despite the holdups, advocacy groups such as the American Kratom Association are still working hard to ensure that the movement for safe and legal kratom in America does not end here. They continue to do their work as diligently as possible, and their goals for getting consumer protection laws in place are still in progress.

One great way to support kratom advocacy is to give direct monetary donations to these organizations. Alternatively, purchasing your kratom from vendors that donate to these causes is another way to provide some support.

Stick With Kratom

If 2020 has taught us anything, it is that the world is a complicated and constantly changing place. The ongoing changes are affecting the effectiveness of kratom advocacy as well, and that is something that we don’t believe we should risk. The efforts of kratom advocacy groups over the last decade have made a huge difference in how kratom is perceived in America, and we don’t want those efforts to go to waste.

Even if you aren’t prepared to get fully involved in advocacy efforts, we are committed to doing what we can to support these efforts. By supporting us here at Left Coast Kratom, we’ll pass on your support to the groups that are doing what they can to make a difference. Thank you for joining us in this mission!

Keeping Kratom: How To Support The Kratom Industry From Home

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people are staying home as much as possible, limiting their travel and shopping to as few stores as possible, and buying online whenever possible. The same can be said within the kratom industry, and many kratom lovers were already doing most of their shopping online before these changes took place.

Though the use of kratom has not changed because of the pandemic, the way that people are shopping, spending their money, and buying from small businesses has been put into a new perspective in our industry and beyond.

If you want to keep supporting the kratom industry from home, here is what you can do.

Shop Online For Easy Shopping

The easiest way to continue to support the kratom industry during this time is to keep shopping for kratom as you normally would! Though some vendors have had delays due to shipping and warehouse delays during the COVID-19 pandemic, most kratom vendors are still working hard to ensure that their customers are able to easily get the products that they want to order.

Seek Reputable Sites

As always, it is important to make sure that you are shopping from reputable vendors during this time.

In addition to the usual safety measures that need to be taken to ensure that your kratom supply is handled safely, vendors are now taking into account the safety measure necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at their offices and warehouses. Suppliers and vendors that are doing this properly are taking the well-being of their employees into concern, and that is something that is worth supporting.

Try Different Products

If you want to expand the amount of kratom that you usually buy during this time to give an extra boost to your favorite seller, one unique way to do that would be to buy a few different products than you usually try! There are a lot of different strains of kratom, and there is a good chance that you haven’t tried every kratom product that your favorite vendor carries.

It’s a great time to explore new strains and see what else you might enjoy!

Social Distancing & Kratom

If you live in an area where the guidelines for COVID-19 management have been loosened to allow for in-person shopping at your local brick-and-mortar store, you can head there to shop for kratom as well. Stores like this have lost a lot during these difficult times, and shopping from local small businesses can be a good way to support your local economy.

Should you choose to do this, however, it is important to make sure that you follow your local guidelines and the store owners’ requests as far as social distancing, cleaning, and protection measures. These measures allow for the stores to remain open during this crisis, so keep that in mind when you choose to visit a physical store.

Curbside Pickup & Other Services

If you prefer to shop for kratom in person or you simply want to be able to get your supply faster than waiting for shipping to come in from online, it might be possible to do curbside pick-up. To do this, you’ll need to find what local shops sell kratom if you aren’t already sure.

Often, CBD and smoke shops will stock kratom, so give these local stores a call and find out what type of kratom they carry. From there, see if you can place a no-contact or curbside order. Many small businesses that have limited online stores are allowing for these types of transactions to expand their business during lock down, so you should be able to find a shop that can make the necessary accommodations for you.

Once you’ve made your order, follow the store’s directions to arrive and pick up your supply. Doing this once will help you to figure out how easy it is, and then you can decide if you want to do more orders in this way in the future or not.

Constantly Evolving Situation

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a lot of change in America. Things are constantly changing based on the spread of the virus, and each area of the country has different rules and guidelines in place.

It’s impossible to give a cut-and-dry way to handle the situation. The best that we can advise is to ensure that you are following the guidance of local and state leaders as necessary while still supporting local businesses that sell kratom. The kratom industry is strong enough to survive this pandemic but only with the help of consumers like you.

Support Kratom Advocacy

The last thing that you can do to ensure that the kratom industry feels your support during the COVID-19 pandemic is to support ongoing kratom advocacy efforts.

You might be familiar with the fact that kratom is legal but not very well protected or monitored in America. This means that disreputable kratom vendors can get away with selling subpar products to consumers without their knowledge. Organizations such as the American Kratom Association have been working to protect consumers, but many of those efforts are now delayed due to pandemic.

While those organizations are going to continue their work as much as possible, they need more support now than ever before. Here are some ways that you can help ensure the future of the kratom industry is a good one:

  • Monetarily support the American Kratom Association
  • Write letters or make phone calls to your local legislatures about kratom protections
  • Support initiatives in your local and state communities that protect kratom
  • Join local kratom advocacy groups to find out what types of actions are needed nearby

Don’t Give Up On Kratom

If you’ve enjoyed kratom and feel that it improves your quality of life, the ongoing pandemic doesn’t need to take that away from you. Your usual shopping methods might need to change, but remember that there are other ways that you can gain access to kratom during this time.

Consider shopping here at Left Coast Kratom if you are looking for a reliable and reputable seller to use for your next batch of kratom. We’re happy to help you find what you’re looking for and explain anything that you might be curious about our products as well.

Kratom Legislation: Where and How Laws Are Changing

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The status of kratom in America is changing.

In 2019, four states passed Kratom Consumer Protection Acts. In 2020, the similar bills might be passed in twenty states or more!

For many years, kratom users here in the states have had to take kratom on the edges of legality. Not specifically illegal, not legally regulated, Kratom’s status is not always clear. In recent months, more states are making their positions about the botanical clear, but there is still a way’s to go.

The American Kratom Association, also known as the AKA, is at the forefront of this movement. They want to end this 2020 with protection laws for kratom users passed in 25 states. Currently, these laws only exist in four states.

Curious about why we support this goal and find it important not just for vendors but for consumers around the United States? Here’s why:

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The Fear of Kratom in the United States

Many politicians in the U.S. are afraid of kratom and its legality because they don’t understand it. Many non-kratom users in America fear kratom because they see it as another potentially harmful drug. With the status of the addiction crisis in America, we can completely understand these fears.

Our fears for kratom, however, are different.

Scientific and anecdotal proof has already been enough for us to believe that kratom is a safe and beneficial substance for many people. What hasn’t been shown yet, however, is that the supply chain of kratom in America is safe for its users.

In many states, there is absolutely no regulation on kratom sales. This means that vendors could choose the lowest quality product that they want and put it for sale without any repercussions or laws to guide them.

The one that gets hurt most in this situation is the consumer!

Even if you don’t come in direct contact with contaminated kratom, instances of bad kratom making it to another consumer hurts you. Each case causes kratom to be viewed more negatively, and the risk of a complete ban increases.

How The Kratom Consumer Protection Act Can Help

The Kratom Consumer Protection Act is a set of guidelines that the American Kratom Association is working with each state to enact. 

The act would cover the following tenets in some way:

  • • Age restriction: what will be the state’s legal age be for kratom products?
  • • Labeling: what type of information will be required or forbidden on kratom labeling?
  • • Warnings: what type of warnings and safety information must be given to consumers on the labeling?
  • • Registration: how will kratom testing compliance and product registration be handled?
  • • Quality: how will the quality be tested, and what will the quality requirements be?

The KCPA, Kratom Consumer Protection Act, will not be exactly the same in every state. Just as cannabis laws differ in each state, kratom laws may, too. AKA works with each state that they discuss kratom with to develop the laws so that kratom can be regulated in a safe, effective way that is satisfactory to the state.

Not all components listed above will make it through the state’s legislative system, but AKA does its part to make sure that the most important factors are addressed.

2020: The Goal of 21 States

For 2020, the American Kratom Association has set a goal to have some type of kratom protection laws passed in 21 more states. They have already been setting the groundwork in many states to get the KCPA into lawmaker’s hands so that the change can begin.

AKA is targeting these states in 2020:

  • • Oregon
  • • Idaho
  • • Colorado
  • • Kansas
  • • Oklahoma
  • • Missouri
  • • Louisiana
  • • Illinois
  • • Michigan
  • • Tennessee
  • • Mississippi
  • • Florida
  • • South Carolina
  • • North Carolina
  • • Virginia
  • • West Virginia
  • • Ohio
  • • Pennsylvania
  • • New York
  • • Rhode Island
  • • Wisconsin
  • • Alabama
  • • Arkansas

Most of these states don’t yet have any laws about kratom in place, but four of them have actually already enacted a ban on kratom. The American Kratom Association, however, believes that the bans in these four states can be changed in 2020:

  • • Rhode Island
  • • Alabama
  • • Arkansas
  • • Wisconsin

The goal to have half of the states in the USA to have kratom consumer protections in place by the end of the year is a big one, but the American Kratom Association and its supporters have been advocating for the same, regulated use of kratom for a long time. This year, the culmination of those efforts should result in this kind of big change!

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Accountability Matters Most

As mentioned above, shady vendors can sell anything that they want to their customers right now, and there is no way for the customer to find out about this. There is no quality control testing that is checked by any third-party unless the vendor themselves makes the effort to have their product tested.

Here at Left Coast Kratom, we wanted to show that we take our product safety and quality control seriously, so we joined the GMP Standards Program run by the American Kratom Association. In short, this program lays out specific guidelines and standards to ensure that we do our part in keeping the kratom industry safe.

We want our customers – including you – to know that we want to make sure that we are constantly evolving and keeping up with the best practices in the industry. As members of the GMP compliance program, we get the information about safety that we need quickly and are able to put it into action.

Do You Want To Help?

Are you interested in seeing a Kratom Consumer Protect Act go into effect in your state? Do you live in one of the states that the AKA is targeting this year?

If so, this is your chance to get involved with advocacy. It is possible that simply showing up to support change would be enough. And if you want to do more than just show up, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved.

The best way to get involved with local or state advocacy is to contact the American Kratom Association and ask how to get in contact with your area’s advocacy team. From there, you’ll start being a more active part of the change.

Kratom Status: Is Kratom Legal in My State?

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A note to our customers: This post is not legal advice. All information and content contained here are for general informational and entertainment purposes only. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge, but it may not reflect the most up-to-date legal or other information. We suggest that you always do your own research to ensure the validity of information on our blog.

Here in the United States, kratom is sold as a tea product or a dietary ingredient that many people enjoy and find to be beneficial for their lifestyle. There are dozens of kratom vendors and a large community of consumers who feel their lives have changed for the better thanks to kratom.

Unfortunately, these things don’t necessarily mean that kratom is protected by laws and regulations across the country. Due to bad publicity, adulterated products from irresponsible vendors, and misinformation campaigns that have gained traction over the past few years, some counties and states have made moves to ban kratom. 

As avid supporters of safe, lab tested products and responsible kratom consumption, we don’t want to see this happen. Many consumers worry about whether or not they are allowed to try kratom where they live, and the legal status of kratom is often changing in many areas.

Today, we’ll help you learn how to find out if kratom is legal where you live as well as other important legal information that consumers should be aware of. You’ll also learn what you can do to ensure that this botanical stays legal in the US.

Federal Laws

At this time, there are no federal laws or regulations in place about kratom and its use in the US. Kratom vendors sell kratom to their customers as a dietary ingredient and must make it clear that the FDA has not reviewed the product or any claims made about it.

Despite the fact that there are no laws currently in place on the federal level, the FDA and other organizations have put a lot of pressure on law-making bodies to ban kratom. The FDA’s arguments have been widely debunked; in reality, this conversation is dominated by misinformation and a lack of current research about kratom.

For now, kratom is safe from further legal restrictions on a national scale, but there are also no federal regulations in place to help protect consumers or vendors.

State Laws

Like many issues, kratom needs to be regulated on the local and state. Currently, marijuana and CBD regulations are handled on a state-by-state basis, and we expect that any kratom-related rules will initially be done in the same way.

The American Kratom Association is the leading advocacy group for kratom regulations and protections at this time. This nonprofit organization has done wonders to ensure the safety of kratom users across America, and their work continues to be impressive.

Your State’s Rules

Kratom is legal in most states across the continental United States. However, Kratom is currently banned in the following six states:

  • Alabama
  • Arkansas
  • Indiana
  • Rhode Island
  • Vermont
  • Wisconsin

In more positive news, several states have now adopted the Kratom Consumer Protection Act, legislation that both protects consumers from adulterated and misbranded products and protects kratom from being banned. This bill passed in 2019 in Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, and Utah. The AKA is working hard with vendors across the country to introduce the KCPA in many more states, including here in Oregon where we’re located.

The Kratom Consumer Protection Act mandates that kratom vendors comply with Good Manufacturing Practices including testing their products with an accredited lab. With reasonable regulations in place to keep consumers safe, legitimate and responsible kratom vendors will be able to continue to market their products, and consumers will have the peace of mind of knowing that their kratom is safe.

To find out what the status or ongoing bills about kratom in your state look like, you can check out AKA’s interactive map. This map gives detailed information about the state’s rules, and you can follow through on the page to read more details about the status.

What You Can Do

As you can see from the map on AKA’s website, kratom’s legal status is very different depending on where you live. While AKA would love to meet with the FDA to discuss the future of kratom in this country, the FDA has ignored their meeting request for more than 400 days.

It might seem overwhelming, but there are a number of things that you can do to improve the outlook for kratom in the United States. None of these things will put you at risk, and they are all quite easy!

Buy From Qualified Vendors

One of the most important things that you can do is to only buy your kratom from qualified vendors that care about safety. To find these vendors, we recommend looking into the Good Manufacturing Practices Compliance Program run by the AKA. In response to the lack of clear guidelines around kratom, these companies have decided to comply with Good Manufacturing Practices in order to keep their customers safe and satisfied.

The AKA’s GMP Program is that vendors can apply to join. The program outlines good practices that all kratom vendors should follow to ensure that the products they sell are as safe as possible for the consumer. To remain part of the program, they must have an annual 3r-party audit.

By buying from qualified vendors, you are supporting safe and high-quality kratom in the US.

Join Local Advocacy Groups

If you are living in a state that is considering a kratom ban, or the Kratom Consumer Protection Act, it would be worthwhile to get involved at the local level. Using the information available on the AKA website or from your local kratom shop, find out what you can do to prevent a ban from happening, or support reasonable regulations to keep yourself safe!

In many cases, this may be as simple as sending a letter to your local senator or making a short phone call. These actions are very small, but they can make a big difference in the long run!

Remember: Many People Use Kratom

Despite the complications in kratom’s legal status, it is important to remember that kratom is gaining mainstream acceptance and credibility. Many states have even passed regulations that help to ensure that consumers are able to purchase safe kratom without fear of legal action.

Many people use kratom. There isn’t a specific profile that can be used to describe who uses kratom or why. The simple fact is that there are many Americans that find that taking a serving of kratom helps them get through their day-to-day activities, and that is the important part.

AKA, the American Kratom Association, estimates that there are more than 15 million kratom consumers in the United States. That number is constantly growing, so there is no reason to feel like you are alone in your position.

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What Is The AKA? How The American Kratom Association Is Changing Everything

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The world is full of companies and organizations that are working hard to change things for the better. Some of these organizations have bigger impacts on our lives than others, and many have work that goes unknown to a huge majority of the population.

Even as a kratom consumer, you might not be familiar with AKA. What is the AKA? AKA, which stands for American Kratom Association, is an organization that is working to ensure the legality and safety of kratom products for kratom users in America.

While that sentence gives you a brief idea of what AKA is doing in the world of kratom, there is a lot more to learn about if you want to get a full grasp on how they might have an effect on your own life and experiences. Let’s deep dive into the details of this fascinating organization and why we are supporting their efforts in the interesting world of kratom!

AKA Basics

First, let’s cover the most important basics of AKA so that you can find out what the American Kratom Association was founded on as well as what their goals are today.

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What Is The AKA?

The American Kratom Association, often abbreviated as AKA, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the standards, processes, safety, and legal status of kratom in America. 

In order to protect consumers of kratom, AKA is taking a leading position to ensure that the industry is better regulated to ensure safety for customers from both dangerous products and unfair laws.

The Mission

According to its website, AKA’s mission is divided into five main categories. Here’s what AKA themselves have to say about their goals:

  1. 1. Support Consumers. We believe many political and private entities don’t make the needs of the consumer and constituents a priority. Our goal is to change that.
  2. 2. Educate. Kratom has many beneficial purposes and is an all-natural alternative. Our goal is to educate all Americans—from potential consumers to regulators and everyone in between.
  3. 3. Amplify. We represent thousands of Americans that each have a story to tell. We believe the current environment in the United States often does not listen to individual voices and together we will make our voice heard.
  4. 4. Global Awareness. We hope to demonstrate responsible use and practical knowledge other countries may study when considering Kratom legislation.
  5. 5. Protect Natural Resources. Kratom is a precious natural resource. We support and advocate for sustainable harvesting techniques and reforestation efforts.

All of the work that AKA has been doing proves just how committed they are to these goals. Through changes in laws spearheaded by their efforts and changes to the way that kratom sellers are doing business in this country, their effect in the larger American kratom community is apparent. It’s hard to imagine what the kratom industry would look like without their efforts.

We Love The GMP Compliance Program!

One of our favorite things that AKA has worked on in recent years is the GMP compliance program. GMP, which stands for Good Manufacturing Practices, is an acronym used in many different industries. Most industries have a standard level of safety and performance that is expected from manufacturers, but the kratom industry was missing this.

AKA set out to change that.

Through their efforts, the GMP Compliance Program was established, and we are very happy to be members of the program here at Left Coast Kratom.

What Does The GMP Compliance Program Do?

The GMP Program run by AKA sets up a series of standards that must be followed when processing, making, or selling Kratom. The rules require specific types of packaging, testing, labeling, marketing, and educational efforts be made by the vendor. If they do not pass their yearly audit by a third-party, they can no longer be part of the program.

Vendors that commit to following the best practices laid out by the GMP program are more likely to sell quality products to their customers, and this improves the safety for their customers.

Additionally, there are some great secondary effects of ensuring product safety beyond just ensuring that customers are safe. As you might know, many states are considering banning kratom because of outdated and inaccurate data; dangerous kratom supplies can further motivate these types of laws.

By helping to ensure that additional safety checks are in place, it is less likely that any kratom-related incidents will occur in America.

What Is LCK Doing?

To join the GMP compliance program, we took the practices suggested by AKA and improved the way that we were working with our kratom products. While we have always had the safety of our customers in mind, the research done by AKA for the program is incredibly thorough. This meant that we were able to further refine our safety practices to ensure the best for our customers.

Moving forward, we are always sure to follow the examples and guidelines laid out by AKA for the GMP program. The program is hugely important to how we do business, and we hope that our customers are able to feel just how much we care.

Why You Should Love AKA, Too

We’re not the only ones who should love AKA for all the amazing work that they have done in the Kratom industry. You should, too!

As a consumer and member of the kratom community, AKA has already had a huge impact on your life even if you haven’t realized it before. Most vendors in America are following AKA’s lead in safety practices. And if it wasn’t for AKA’s efforts, kratom might already be completely banned in America!

The American Kratom Association is working tirelessly to protect consumers like you, and we think that’s pretty cool. If you want to continue to support their efforts, there are a few things that you can do:

  • • Donate to their work and research directly
  • • Only purchase kratom via GMP-compliant vendors to ensure quality and safety
  • • Join AKA’s local advocacy efforts
  • • Support kratom regulation laws and protections at the local level

AKA is doing everything it can to ensure that you can continue to enjoy kratom safely and legally. Here at LCK, we’re doing our best to follow that same mentality. What will you do to help the community thrive?