Jefferson City, Mo. – The Missouri House of Representatives endorsed legislation on Thursday to regulate Kratom products.
Kratom Consumer Protection Act is created by House bill 2061 that needs assurity from Kratom products dealers that their products do not have any dangerous substance. According to this regulatory plan, no one is allowed to sell Kratom products to people under 18.
According to the United States Food and Drug Administration, Kratom is a plant native to Asia that exposes its users to a couple of serious risks e.g., dependence, addiction, and abuse. Its effects on the human brain are exactly similar to morphine. It is commonly used to treat depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and a couple of other health problems.
Rep. Phil Christofanelli, St. Peters sponsored this bill and said “the customers have a complete right to know that the products they buy are exactly what they want for them.
This bill is introduced to make sure that all the Kratom products being sold within this state are appropriately reserved for adults and properly labeled. The basic goal behind that is the protection of the public from fake actors present in today’s market.
Last year, according to St. Charles County’s Kratom Seller registration Ordinance, the law demands Kratom sellers get registered through an online platform. These sellers are also bound to inform customers with proper labeling as well as refrain from selling concentrated or adulterated Kratom products that may be harmful to the human body.
According to a press release from Christofanelli’s office, the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA) has also been implemented in 5 other states and the same plan is still pending in 22 states.
There exist multiple stores that sell Kratom in various forms e.g., extracts, capsules, taffies, and powder. This product is also available to buy from online stores. The public health officials found “mitragynine” as a natural substance that is derived from Kratom leaves. In 2019, deaths of 3 people were reported because of having too much of this substance. The outcomes enraged store owners and the Kratom enthusiasts as well.
Main Clauses of Kratom Regulatory Bill
1) The one who deals in the preparation, distribution, selling, and exposing for sale any food which is represented to be a Kratom item should have to clearly disclose those facts on the label of that particular item upon which the dealer has made that representation.
2) A dealer will not be allowed for preparing, distributing, selling, or exposing for sale any of the following products:
- The Kratom item having 7-hydroxymitragynine in an alkaloid fraction which is quite larger than 2% of the product’s alkaloid composition.
- A Kratom product having a dangerous and harmful non-Kratom substance. A product will be considered dangerous if it has a poisonous substance. It is not at all limited to any substance that is provided in the section 195.017.
- Any (Kratom) product that consists of synthetic alkaloid including 7-hydroxymitragynine, any other compound derived synthetically, or synthetic mitragynine.
- A Kratom product that is either packed or mixed with non-Kratom dangerous substances that are injurious to the consumers’ health.
- Any product whose label has no information about the contents of 7-hydroxymitragynine and mitragynine that has been added to this product.
3) Any dealer will not be allowed to sell, expose or distribute Kratom products to the people who are below 18 (years of age).
Bill’s progress can be checked here.
