“A review of available law enforcement and laboratory sources in Florida demonstrates that Kratom does not currently constitute a significant risk to the safety and welfare of Florida residents. According to the Florida Department of Health (DOH), no pervasive health issues have been attributed to the ingestion of Kratom products in Florida. Diagnostic tests that would reveal the presence of Mitragynine are not routinely performed on patients during emergency room visits. Therefore, arriving at the precise number of Mitragynine exposures that result in harm to the patient is difficult to assess.”
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement report is yet another example that follows countless medical and education professionals who support Kratom For example, Alan Bloom, a member of Wisconsin’s Controlled Substances Board and a professor of pharmacology and toxicology at the Medical College of Wisconsin, stated “There’s no scientific basis for classifying Kratom as a dangerous drug.” And Jack Henningfield, Ph.D., Professor of Behavioral Biology, The John Hopkins University, who testified, “[Kratom] consumption does not interfere with work or social activities and commitments, and in fact are widely reported in the U.S., as in Southeast Asia, to contribute to work productivity, quality of life, and social relationships.”
In the wake of the recent statement about kratom released by the F D A, more documents like this are surfacing, calling into question the motive for these scare tactics.
Reports, like the 2015 Florida document, can serve as an example for legislators to refer to when contacting them about pending kratom legislation.
What can you do?
Stay informed. Stay involved. Share your story and connect with other people in the kratom community. Support kratom advocacy groups like the AKA and NKC.