Global Kratom Coalition Supports Nebraska's Kratom Consumer Protection Act (LB 230)
LOS ANGELES, CA, March 12, 2025 (EZ Newswire) -- The Global Kratom Coalition (GKC) has been working with the Nebraska legislature since early 2024 in support of Nebraska's Legislative Bill 230, the Kratom Consumer Protection Act, introduced by State Senator Bob Hallstrom (District 1, Lincoln-NE). This proposed legislation aims to establish common-sense regulations that will enhance consumer safety and promote responsible manufacturing, marketing, and sale of kratom products in Nebraska.
Among the bill's key provisions are measures designed to protect consumers, including prohibiting the marketing of kratom products designed to appeal to children, prohibiting the sale of kratom products to individuals under 21 years of age, and requiring product labeling that discourages use by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
One of the most important regulations in LB 230 ensures that any level of 7-hydroxymitragynine (7OH) does not exceed 2% of the overall alkaloid composition of the product. This safeguard effectively eliminates the risk associated with synthesized high-potency isolate 7OH products (known as '7') that are proliferating across the state.
Unlike natural-leaf kratom products, synthesized products like '7' contain eight unknown compounds and 100 times more 7OH than true kratom products. These new, untested products have no scientific data to support their use. They are being marketed as a cure for the opioid crisis when in fact they are fueling their own addiction and health crises through their unfettered access across the nation.
Organizations such as the Holistic Alternative Recovery Trust (HART) are attempting to either kill kratom regulations bills or strike out core consumer safety provisions that protect consumers from these dangerous synthetic products. They have no data to support their position and contradict opinions expressed by the leading kratom scientists in the US who say '7" products should not be considered kratom. Proponents of '7" are not making factual or credible claims about the safety and efficacy of these products.
HART's aim to promote '7" products comes at the risk of consumers. During a press event held by HART in October 2024, panel members advocated for the regulation of 7OH products as if they were natural kratom, making unapproved new drug claims.
'When organizations like HART make unapproved claims that 7OH products are intended for pain relief or opioid use disorder, they are promoting these products as drugs as defined by the FDA,' said Matthew Lowe, Executive Director of the Global Kratom Coalition. 'Without prior FDA approval, such products are unlawful to sell.'
The Global Kratom Coalition has been actively involved in encouraging the development of LB 230 since its introduction on January 14, 2025, working alongside stakeholders to ensure that consumers have access to safe, natural kratom products and are protected from dangerous synthesized alternatives.
'Our goal is to support legislation that empowers consumers to make informed decisions while maintaining continued access to responsibly manufactured kratom products,' Lowe added. 'Nebraska's Kratom Consumer Protection Act is a significant step forward in achieving those goals.'
The Global Kratom Coalition urges lawmakers and stakeholders to support LB 230 and reject any attempts to weaken the bill's vital protections for consumers.
About the Global Kratom Coalition
The Global Kratom Coalition is an alliance of kratom consumers, experts, and industry leaders dedicated to protecting access to kratom while advancing scientific research, driving consumer education, and developing robust regulations to protect consumers. For more information, visit https://globalkratomcoalition.org.
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CBS News
4 days ago
- CBS News
What is 7-OH? Florida bans potent kratom compound, calling it as addictive as opioids
Citing an "immediate danger to the public health, safety and welfare," Attorney General James Uthmeier on Wednesday issued an emergency rule banning a "highly addictive" compound known as 7-OH, a concentrated byproduct of kratom that is sold in smoke shops throughout the state. The rule prohibiting "7-hydroxymitragynine," an alkaloid known as 7-OH, went into effect immediately. The compound — available in such products as drinks, gummies and powders — has skyrocketed in popularity over the past few years. Doctors say 7-OH acts on the same parts of the brain and is as addictive as opioids. "It is a significant painkiller. It has been proven to be highly addictive and easily can be overdosed, so it's very dangerous," Uthmeier said at a news conference at Tampa General Hospital. "We are taking emergency action now because we see immediate danger." Florida in 2023 prohibited the sale of kratom, a plant whose botanical name is "mitragyna speciosa," to people under age 21. But legislation aimed at regulating or banning sale or use altogether has not passed. The 7-OH alkaloid is one of the plant's most potent active compounds. According to information distributed by the attorney general, 7-OH levels are low in whole kratom leaves, while isolated or concentrated forms of the compound are much stronger and often are sold as natural or health supplements. The emergency rule — which applies to 7-OH "concentrated at a level of 1 percent by weight" — comes after an effort by President Donald Trump's administration to highlight the dangers of 7-OH as part of a broader effort to address opioid addiction. U.S. Drug and Food Administration Commissioner Martin Makary was among the officials who flanked Uthmeier at Wednesday's announcement. Makary's office two weeks ago took initial steps to add 7-OH to the federal schedule of dangerous drugs. Makary, a pancreatic surgeon, said 7-OH "may be the fourth wave of the opioid epidemic." "This is not just like an opioid. … It is an opioid. It is scientifically meeting the criteria of an opioid and yet you can go in a vape shop in America almost on any corner and buy it like a cup of coffee," Makary said. The popularity of kratom has boomed over the past decade, but 7-OH products are relative latecomers to the market, according to industry insiders. Proponents of 7-OH immediately pushed back against Uthmeier's arguments about the substance. "While we understand that the AG was making an attempt at keeping people safe, the scheduling of 7-OH is really unwarranted. … We know that there is no crisis," Jackie Subeck, founder of the 7-HOPE alliance nonprofit, told reporters Wednesday. "This is all a manufactured crisis by the kratom industry because they are losing market share every day to 7-OH." Jeff Smith, national policy director for the Holistic Alternative Recovery Trust, disputed that consumption of 7-OH on its own can be fatal. "This decision ignores the science," Smith said in a news release. The Federal Drug Administration's database lists "zero confirmed deaths linked to 7-OH alone, and just eight adverse events ever reported, even with over half a billion adult uses," according to Smith's release. "If 7-OH were truly the threat being claimed, the data would show it. It doesn't," Smith said. Proponents of 7-OH appeared to be gearing up for a fight. Smith said his group plans on working with lawmakers ahead of the 2026 legislative session to craft "comprehensive, science-based regulations covering both 7-OH and kratom." "Emergency scheduling is meant to address immediate, demonstrated dangers, not to eliminate market competitors under the guise of public health," Smith said. "The Florida AG's action today may serve the interests of kratom lobbyists, but it doesn't serve the people of Florida who deserve safe, regulated options — not political theater." Subeck said to stay tuned. "Everything that we can possibly do is on the table," she said. Meanwhile, Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, whose office has authority to enforce the emergency rule, warned retailers to comply with the ban. "Get it off your shelves. You will be seeing our folks in the coming days, and we will seize these products," said Simpson, who also joined the attorney general in Tampa. The crackdown on the kratom-based products also is part of a state effort to keep readily available intoxicating substances out of the hands of children. Simpson pointed to his office's focus on removing items sold at gas stations, vape shops and other retail outlets that violate the state's prohibition against the sale or manufacturing of hemp-based products that are attractive to children. "We are going to be very aggressive" about enforcing the new rule, Simpson said. "If you have these products, I would go ahead and remove them. I would get them out of the state of Florida," he advised.

Associated Press
4 days ago
- Associated Press
Global Kratom Coalition Applauds Florida's Ban on Dangerous Concentrated Synthetic 7-OH Products
The Global Kratom Coalition (GKC) today praised Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier's announcement to follow the lead of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and issue an emergency scheduling of concentrated synthetic 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) opioid products. The move follows growing concern from federal and state health officials about the addictive nature and public health risks of synthetic 7-OH, a novel opioid that is masquerading as a dietary supplement. Natural leaf kratom was not included or under scrutiny in today's announcement. 'Florida's leadership in taking swift action against dangerous synthetic 7-OH opioid products is a landmark moment in protecting public health,' said Matthew Lowe, Executive Director of the Global Kratom Coalition. 'We strongly support enforcement against synthetic 7-OH opioid products, which pose real risks of abuse, dependence, and overdose. Importantly, similar to the FDA's recommendation, this action draws a clear line between natural kratom leaf products and novel lab-produced potent derivatives like 7, by clearly ensuring that natural kratom leaf is not affected by the emergency scheduling.' This announcement comes after FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary stated on July 29 that the federal government is 'targeting a concentrated synthetic byproduct that is an opioid,' underscoring the urgency of state-level action. Despite this clarity, confusion persists among consumers, policymakers, and the media about the fundamental differences between synthetic 7-OH and traditional, plant-based kratom. 'Natural leaf kratom has been used safely for over 50 years by millions of Americans,' Lowe said. 'The danger lies in synthetic manipulation by bad actors to create a product that is 13 times more potent than morphine and is in no way similar to natural kratom. Florida has sent a strong message: there's no place for these dangerous, concentrated opioids in our communities.' GKC emphasized that the Florida emergency scheduling, which takes immediate effect, aligns with the coalition's mission to ensure kratom remains available in its natural form while keeping harmful synthetic derivatives off the market. The group urged other states to follow Florida's lead and act before synthetic concentrated 7-OH opioid products become more widespread. 'We commend Attorney General Uthmeier and Commissioner Makary for prioritizing consumer safety,' Lowe added. 'This is exactly the kind of targeted enforcement that protects the public without denying consumer access to natural kratom. We stand ready to work with Florida lawmakers, like the Kratom Consumer Protection Act sponsors Senator Collins and Representative Owen, when the legislature convenes in January to codify this scheduling into law.' For more information, the Global Kratom Coalition has prepared a one-page fact sheet and a video clip of Dr. Makary's July 29 remarks to help clarify the differences between natural kratom and synthetic 7-OH products. About Global Kratom Coalition The Global Kratom Coalition is an alliance of kratom consumers, experts, and industry leaders dedicated to protecting access to kratom while advancing scientific research, driving consumer education, and developing robust regulations to protect consumers. For more information, visit Media Contact Patrick George +1 916-202-1982 [email protected] ### SOURCE: Global Kratom Coalition Copyright 2025 EZ Newswire


Business Wire
5 days ago
- Business Wire
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