DEA kratom comment filing period findings

www.kratom-k.com/dea-kratom-comment-filing-period-findings/

ACFC releases kratom findings

DEA opened public comment in regards to a proposed ban of the kratom plant and it’s constituents late last year before a proposed ban. The response was quick, coordinated and overwhelming consisted of positive support. Thank to results from an early February study by the American Kratom Association and the American Coalition of Free Citizens. Over 23,000 total comment filers signed with a review of the results revealing that 99.1% of the filers were in support of kratom’s availability. Nearly a full 20% of the filers presented happened to be military veterans, just over 20% who commented with age were Senior citizens. DEA support for the ban dissolved due to the outpouring of support based on the efforts of the kratom community led by such organizations as American Kratom Association, Kratom United and Botanical Education Alliance.

The AKA/ACFC findings were surprising to many in the media who had previously slurred the plant product. Among those listing a profession, nearly half were involved in respected professions such as health care, research and science or law enforcement. For this particular group, 754 to 9 were pro-kratom/anti-ban (support of 98.7% among that particular group). 449 comment filers were self-identified as military veterans, 18% of the 2416 filers to specify a profession. Veteran support for kratom legality was an astounding margin of 448 to 1, or 99.8%. 576 health care professionals responding also supported kratom by a strong margin (569 to 7 or 99.8%). 3811 of the responders were 55 or older making up just over 20% of the total who replied regarding age. Once again the margin was overwhelming at 805 to 1, an astounding 99.9%.

Susan Ash, director, American Kratom Association and Jason Jeffers, president, American Coalition of Free Citizens were quoted in a press release from AKA: “The face of kratom consumers is the face of America today. Our groups partnered-up to examine all of the public comments to DEA on the kratom ban because we were curious about who was responding and what they had to say. What we found is a kratom community of responsible consumers who look just like your family and the people who live next door. The results speak for themselves: 99 percent of those who comment, do not want the federal government to police the natural herb called kratom.”

Findings reveal overwhelming positive sentiment

Research and communications director, Katie Lair, of the American Coalition of Free Citizens, said: “The most curious thing about the public comments is that there were so few responses actually supporting the DEA. Only 113 people out of 23,116 commented in support of the DEA proposal to ban kratom. When you have so much anti-kratom propaganda circulating at the state level and misleading talk of a public health crisis, one would expect more public comments in support of what the DEA is trying to do. To have just 113 people nationwide support the DEA is remarkable for a campaign like this to determine whether something should be banned for the entire nation. The topline finding is obvious: There is no public appetite for banning kratom and continued fierce opposition can be expected by anyone who cares to do so.”

Medical professionals were defined as “medical doctors, registered nurses, psychiatrists, speech therapists and EMTs and trained first responders” in the context of the study. Recent research from Dr. Jack Henningfield, Ph.D., vice president of Research, Health Policy, and Abuse Liability at PinneyAssociates, suggests there is “insufficient evidence” for the DEA’s grounds in regard to a ban on the kratom plant (close botanical cousin to the coffee plant) or products derived from it’s leaf. The Henningfield report states that kratom has no greater (or possibly less) potential for abuse and dependence than “nutmeg, hops, St. John’s Wort, chamomile, guarana, and kola nut.”

Filed under: General Problems