u/No_Hurry_2570

In today’s special session in North Dakota, legislation that would have scheduled synthetic derivatives while maintaining access to natural kratom leaf was amended into a full ban. Following this, the legislature has decided not to allow public testimony. This situation presents a serious threat to the legality of natural kratom leaf in North Dakota and would turn law abiding citizens into criminals. Please share this alert with everyone you know in ND. As they won’t be allowing testimony it is imperative that people contact legislators directly to let them know they oppose a blanket ban.

On September 1 at 10am is your last opportunity for public testimony.

They will be voting on September 2.

Submit written testimony and/or If you are going to testify here…

https://ndlegis.gov/legend/committee/testimony/public-testimony/5704/

There are 2 bills in play.

SB 2408 — Bans/schedules synthetic kratom derivatives

❌THE AKA HAS HEARD SHE IS GOING TO AMEND THIS BILL LAST MINUTE FOR AN ALL OUT BAN❌

“Relating to the scheduling of mitragynine synthetic derivatives as a schedule I controlled substance.”

This is the synthetic/7-OH bill.

It would:

•Put synthetic derivatives of mitragynine into Schedule I under North Dakota law.

•Specifically address 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH).

•Also capture future synthetic derivatives rather than limiting the law to today's named compounds.

•Make use and possession criminal offenses, with penalties escalating for subsequent offenses.

•Treat the synthetic derivatives differently from natural kratom leaf.

The proposal was developed by Sen. Michelle Axtman. The reported penalty structure is particularly important.

———————————————————————

HB 1628 is essentially a Kratom Consumer Protection-style bill rather than a ban.

The proposal would:

•Allow natural kratom to remain legal.
Prohibit sales to anyone under 21.

•Require labeling, including a warning that kratom may be addictive.

•Give the Attorney General authority to regulate kratom sales.

•Restrict packaging that imitates candy or otherwise appears designed to appeal to children.

•Establish regulatory requirements around the sale of kratom products.

This is the bill proposed by Rep. Pat Heinertand developed through the state's Kratom Working Group. The working group specifically described it as regulation of natural kratom products, modeled in part on the way tobacco is regulated. 

🚨 OHIO KRATOM ACTION ALERT 🚨

Ohio is at a critical turning point right now.

The Ohio Board of Pharmacy has already moved forward on rules targeting synthetic kratom compounds and products and high potency synthetics, but there is STILL ongoing concern over separate proposals involving plain leaf kratom.

This is the time to contact:

• Ohio legislators in the General Assembly

• JCARR (Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review)

JCARR reviews whether state agencies like the Board of Pharmacy are exceeding their authority or improperly creating rules without legislative approval.

The message needs to stay focused:

➡️ Regulate dangerous synthetic products.

➡️ Protect adults.

➡️ Do NOT Schedule I natural plain leaf kratom.

Personal stories matter more than copy-paste form letters right now. If plain leaf kratom helped you reclaim mobility, reduce pain, avoid stronger substances, or improve quality of life, respectfully tell them.

Key Ohio sources:

• Ohio Board of Pharmacy Proposed Rules:

https://www.pharmacy.ohio.gov/lawsrules/proposedrules

• JCARR information:

https://www.jcarr.state.oh.us/

• Ohio House:

https://ohiohouse.gov/

• Ohio Senate:

https://ohiosenate.gov/

JCARR contact often shared by advocates:

jcar@lsc.ohio.gov

Ohio Board of Pharmacy Rule references people are watching closely:

• Rule 4729:9-1-01.1 SYNTHETICS only, but no labeling for consumption (silent ban)

• Rule 4729:9-1-01.2 proposed to schedule PLAIN LEAF (mitragynine as Schedule I Substance)🌿

Ohio needs regulation and consumer protections — not another rushed prohibition that hurts responsible adults using plain leaf kratom responsibly.

Thank you very much.

Alcohol kills over 100,000 people and yet there is no outcry to ban and make buying or drinking illegal. Doing Kratom is not going to fuck up your life, like other drugs or alcohol could if your not careful.

Stop Amplifying the Opposition: A Message to Kratom Advocates

Over the last few years, we've seen a pattern emerge on the major social media platforms. Some groups of grieving parents have become closely aligned with class-action attorneys and what many advocates describe as astroturf organizations—groups that appear to be grassroots movements but are backed or coordinated by organizations with broader political or financial objectives.

For that reason, I've intentionally avoided engaging with these groups online. It's not because I don't have sympathy for parents who have lost a child—every loss is tragic—but because arguing with them on social media accomplishes very little while often helping amplify their message.

Social media algorithms are designed to reward engagement, not accuracy. Every comment, quote post, reply, argument, or share tells the platform that a post is generating interest. As a result, the algorithm is more likely to recommend that content to additional users. Even when your intention is to debunk misinformation or expose inconsistencies, your engagement can inadvertently increase the visibility of the very content you're trying to counter.

Unfortunately, we've also begun to see this escalate beyond online debates. Some of these astroturf organizations have reportedly taken screenshots of advocates' social media posts out of context and sent them to employers in an attempt to damage their careers. In at least one well-known case within the kratom advocacy community, an advocate's family was subjected to a report to Child Protective Services, creating significant legal expenses and personal hardship. Whether these tactics ultimately succeed is almost beside the point—they consume time, money, and emotional energy that could otherwise be spent advocating for sensible kratom policy.

There is simply very little to gain from engaging these groups directly or indirectly on social media. It rarely changes minds, but it frequently increases the reach of their content while exposing advocates to unnecessary personal and professional risks. If your goal is to keep kratom legal, your efforts are generally better spent educating legislators, regulators, researchers, journalists, and members of the public who are genuinely open to evidence-based discussion.

Finally, if you are not completely public about your kratom use or your advocacy with your employer, family, or professional network, think carefully before engaging in public arguments online. Once something is posted, it can be screenshot, taken out of context, and circulated indefinitely. Protect yourself, stay focused on effective advocacy, and don't allow those looking for attention or conflict to dictate where your time and energy are spent.

🚨 OHIO KRATOM ACTION ALERT 🚨

Ohio is at a critical turning point right now.

The Ohio Board of Pharmacy has already moved forward on rules targeting synthetic kratom compounds and products and high potency synthetics, but there is STILL ongoing concern over separate proposals involving plain leaf kratom.

This is the time to contact:

• Ohio legislators in the General Assembly

• JCARR (Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review)

JCARR reviews whether state agencies like the Board of Pharmacy are exceeding their authority or improperly creating rules without legislative approval.

The message needs to stay focused:

➡️ Regulate dangerous synthetic products.

➡️ Protect adults.

➡️ Do NOT Schedule I natural plain leaf kratom.

Personal stories matter more than copy-paste form letters right now. If plain leaf kratom helped you reclaim mobility, reduce pain, avoid stronger substances, or improve quality of life, respectfully tell them.

Key Ohio sources:

• Ohio Board of Pharmacy Proposed Rules:

https://www.pharmacy.ohio.gov/lawsrules/proposedrules

• JCARR information:

https://www.jcarr.state.oh.us/

• Ohio House:

https://ohiohouse.gov/

• Ohio Senate:

https://ohiosenate.gov/

JCARR contact often shared by advocates:

jcar@lsc.ohio.gov

Ohio Board of Pharmacy Rule references people are watching closely:

• Rule 4729:9-1-01.1 SYNTHETICS only, but no labeling for consumption (silent ban)

• Rule 4729:9-1-01.2 proposed to schedule PLAIN LEAF (mitragynine as Schedule I Substance)🌿

Ohio needs regulation and consumer protections — not another rushed prohibition that hurts responsible adults using plain leaf kratom responsibly.

Thank you very much.

🍀💚 Lucky's Botanical Kratom 💚🍀

♥️🍒RED KRAKATOA 🍒♥️

.Red Krakatoak came on nice fast and clean, with no buildup needed. My mind felt clear almost right away, with a strong sense of focus and direction for the day.

It carried a noticeable warm, almost fiery energy—enough give me the ght sweast—but it stayed comfortable and steady, not overpowering.

Overall, it felt sharp, purposeful, and very effective for getting moving and staying on track

Dose: 2.5g.

Spec: mid -uper to mod-low.

Energy: 7.

Body : 9.

Mood: 8.

Over all: 10

♥️🍒RED KRAKATOA 🍒♥️

.Red Krakatoak came on nice fast and clean, with no buildup needed. My mind felt clear almost right away, with a strong sense of focus and direction for the day.

It carried a noticeable warm, almost fiery energy—enough give me the ght sweast—but it stayed comfortable and steady, not overpowering.

Overall, it felt sharp, purposeful, and very effective for getting moving and staying on track

Dose: 2.5g.

Spec: mid -uper to mod-low.

Energy: 7.

Body : 9.

Mood: 8.

Over all: 10

Royal Bentley

Lucky's Royal Bentley may be a mid to mid-low for me, but there was something really special about it. t had a smooth, warm feel from beginning to end, and before I knew it, a lot of the aches and pains I deal with every day had faded into the background. I didn't feel high or out of it, just comfortable, relaxed, and in a noticeably better mood because I wasn't hurting as much.

What I liked most was how balanced it felt. Nothing too heavy, nothing too fast. Just a nice sense of well-being that made it easier to move around and enjoy my day. Royal Bentley is one of those strains that doesn't have to be loud to stand out. It's smooth, comforting, and surprisingly tingly feeling was memorable. Sometimes the strains that come on quietly end up being the one you reach for again and again, and I think this is that one of them. BTW: the powder was fresh, red, it tastes creamy I don't know how else to describe it save for Royal Bentley is creamy! Yummy 😋💚🍀

. Royal Bentley Dose: 2.5g Spec: Mid-low Emergy 5/6 Mood: 8 Body:8 Relief 10 Overall 10

🚨 OHIO KRATOM ACTION ALERT 🚨

Ohio is at a critical turning point right now.

The Ohio Board of Pharmacy has already moved forward on rules targeting synthetic kratom compounds and products and high potency synthetics, but there is STILL ongoing concern over separate proposals involving plain leaf kratom.

This is the time to contact:

Ohio legislators in the General Assembly

JCARR (Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review)

JCARR reviews whether state agencies like the Board of Pharmacy are exceeding their authority or improperly creating rules without legislative approval.

The message needs to stay focused:

Regulate dangerous synthetic products.

Protect adults.

Do NOT Schedule I natural plain leaf kratom.

Personal stories matter more than copy-paste form letters right now. If plain leaf kratom helped you reclaim mobility, reduce pain and treatment resistant anxiety/depression, avoid stronger substances, or improve quality of life, respectfully tell them.

Key Ohio sources:

Ohio Board of Pharmacy Proposed Rules:

https://www.pharmacy.ohio.gov/lawsrules/proposedrules

JCARR information:

https://www.jcarr.state.oh.us/

Ohio House:

https://ohiohouse.gov/

Ohio Senate:

https://ohiosenate.gov/

JCARR contact often shared by advocates:

jcar@lsc.ohio.gov

Ohio Board of Pharmacy Rule references people are watching closely:

Rule 4729:9-1-01.1 SYNTHETICS only, but no labeling for consumption (silent ban)

• Rule 4729:9-1-01.2 proposed to schedule PLAIN LEAF (mitragynine as Schedule I Substance )🌿

Ohio needs regulation and consumer protections-not another rushed prohibition that hurts responsible adults using plain leaf kratom responsibly.

If you have utilized plain Leaf kratom or have loved ones who depend on it for relief please make your voice count!

🚨 OHIO KRATOM ACTION ALERT 🚨

Ohio is at a critical turning point right now.

The Ohio Board of Pharmacy has already moved forward on rules targeting synthetic kratom compounds and high-potency 7-OH products, but there is STILL ongoing concern over separate proposals involving plain leaf kratom.

This is the time to contact:

• Ohio legislators in the General Assembly

• JCARR (Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review)

JCARR reviews whether state agencies like the Board of Pharmacy are exceeding their authority or improperly creating rules without legislative approval.

The message needs to stay focused:

➡️ Regulate dangerous synthetic products.

➡️ Protect adults.

➡️ Do NOT Schedule I natural plain leaf kratom.

Personal stories matter more than copy-paste form letters right now. If plain leaf kratom helped you reclaim mobility, reduce pain, avoid stronger substances, or improve quality of life, respectfully tell them.

Key Ohio sources:

• Ohio Board of Pharmacy Proposed Rules:

https://www.pharmacy.ohio.gov/lawsrules/proposedrules

• JCARR information:

https://www.jcarr.state.oh.us/

• Ohio House:

https://ohiohouse.gov/

• Ohio Senate:

https://ohiosenate.gov/

JCARR contact often shared by advocates:

jcar@lsc.ohio.gov

Rule references people are watching closely:

• Rule 4729:9-1-01.1 the permanent ban on synthetics

• Rule 4729:9-1-01.2 the proposed scheduling of mitrogynine as a schedule 1 substance

Ohio needs regulation and consumer protections — not another rushed prohibition that hurts responsible adults using plain leaf kratom responsibly.

I thank you very much.

🚨 OHIO KRATOM ACTION ALERT 🚨

Ohio is at a critical turning point right now.

The Ohio Board of Pharmacy has already moved forward on rules targeting synthetic kratom compounds and products and high potency synthetics, but there is STILL ongoing concern over separate proposals involving plain leaf kratom.

This is the time to contact:

• Ohio legislators in the General Assembly

• JCARR (Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review)

JCARR reviews whether state agencies like the Board of Pharmacy are exceeding their authority or improperly creating rules without legislative approval.

The message needs to stay focused:

➡️ Regulate dangerous synthetic products.

➡️ Protect adults.

➡️ Do NOT Schedule I natural plain leaf kratom.

Personal stories matter more than copy-paste form letters right now. If plain leaf kratom helped you reclaim mobility, reduce pain, avoid stronger substances, or improve quality of life, respectfully tell them.

Key Ohio sources:

• Ohio Board of Pharmacy Proposed Rules:

https://www.pharmacy.ohio.gov/lawsrules/proposedrules

• JCARR information:

https://www.jcarr.state.oh.us/

• Ohio House:

https://ohiohouse.gov/

• Ohio Senate:

https://ohiosenate.gov/

JCARR contact often shared by advocates:

jcar@lsc.ohio.gov

Ohio Board of Pharmacy Rule references people are watching closely:

• Rule 4729:9-1-01.1 SYNTHETICS only, but no labeling for consumption (silent ban)

• Rule 4729:9-1-01.2 proposed to schedule PLAIN LEAF (mitragynine as Schedule I Substance)🌿

Ohio needs regulation and consumer protections — not another rushed prohibition that hurts responsible adults using plain leaf kratom responsibly.

Thank you very much.

🚨 OHIO KRATOM ACTION ALERT 🚨

Ohio is at a critical turning point right now.

The Ohio Board of Pharmacy has already moved forward on rules targeting synthetic kratom compounds and products and high potency synthetics, but there is STILL ongoing concern over separate proposals involving plain leaf kratom.

This is the time to contact:

• Ohio legislators in the General Assembly

• JCARR (Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review)

JCARR reviews whether state agencies like the Board of Pharmacy are exceeding their authority or improperly creating rules without legislative approval.

The message needs to stay focused:

➡️ Regulate dangerous synthetic products.

➡️ Protect adults.

➡️ Do NOT Schedule I natural plain leaf kratom.

Personal stories matter more than copy-paste form letters right now. If plain leaf kratom helped you reclaim mobility, reduce pain, avoid stronger substances, or improve quality of life, respectfully tell them.

Key Ohio sources:

• Ohio Board of Pharmacy Proposed Rules:

https://www.pharmacy.ohio.gov/lawsrules/proposedrules

• JCARR information:

https://www.jcarr.state.oh.us/

• Ohio House:

https://ohiohouse.gov/

• Ohio Senate:

https://ohiosenate.gov/

JCARR contact often shared by advocates:

jcar@lsc.ohio.gov

Ohio Board of Pharmacy Rule references people are watching closely:

• Rule 4729:9-1-01.1 SYNTHETICS only, but no labeling for consumption (silent ban)

• Rule 4729:9-1-01.2 proposed to schedule PLAIN LEAF (mitragynine as Schedule I Substance)🌿

Ohio needs regulation and consumer protections — not another rushed prohibition that hurts responsible adults using plain leaf kratom responsibly.

There’s been ongoing confusion around how Ohio’s kratom-related rules are being interpreted and enforced.

A lot of people and vendors are getting mixed signals, so here are the main official places people have been contacting if they want to document concerns or ask for clarification.

Ohio Attorney General – Consumer Complaints

consumercomplaint@ohioattorneygeneral.gov

1-800-282-0515

JCARR (Ohio rule review committee)

jcar@lsc.ohio.gov

614-466-3615

They review whether state agency rules are properly written and adopted, not individual cases.

Ohio Board of Pharmacy

https://www.pharmacy.ohio.gov/contact⁠�

614-466-4143

Use their official “File a Complaint” section on the page.

Ohio is actively shaping kratom policy that will decide whether natural plain leaf kratom stays available under regulation or gets restricted under broad classification rules.

Most people still don’t realize how early this stage is — and how much it matters.

At the center of this conversation is something pretty simple:

Natural plain leaf kratom and synthetic or highly concentrated derivatives are not the same thing. When they get treated as one umbrella category, the real-world differences in use and impact can get lost in the policy.

And for many people, this isn’t abstract at all! In fact it's very objective and human.

It’s daily life — managing chronic pain, mobility limitations, anxiety, and trying to stay as independent and active as possible.

A large portion of consumers are middle-aged and older adults, people simply trying to maintain quality of life and function day to day.

There are an estimated 300,000 kratom consumers in Ohio. Most are not extreme cases — they are ordinary people trying to get through life with a little more stability and comfort.

This is not about extremes. It’s about regulation vs prohibition.

Most people agree on the basics: • safety standards

• clear labeling

• age limits

• reasonable regulation

The real question is how Ohio chooses to draw the line — and whether access stays open under regulation or gets pulled into overly broad restrictions.

💬 JUST A HUMAN MOMENT HERE:

If you’ve ever been busy, tired, or overwhelmed, this is one of those situations where a small action actually matters more than it feels like it should.

Taking a couple minutes to send a short email or make a quick call is enough to put your voice into the process.

Even one message counts.

Ohio Representatives involved in health and regulatory committees and Senate leadership — respectful regulation-focused outreach is more effective with current legislative leadership in Ohio:

obrien@ohiosenate.gov; shuffman@ohiosenate.gov; tjohnson@ohiosenate.gov; smanchester@ohiosenate.gov; kroegner@ohiosenate.gov; mromanchuk@ohiosenate.gov

Ohio House contacts connected to agriculture/health/regulatory matters and Republican leadership:

rep82@ohiohouse.gov; rep1@ohiohouse.gov; rep51@ohiohouse.gov; rep61@ohiohouse.gov; rep89@ohiohouse.gov; rep84@ohiohouse.gov

Please stay respectful and push for regulation, testing, labeling, age restrictions, and consumer protection — not prohibition.

☎️ CALLS:

Ohio Senate: (614) 466-8083

Ohio House: (614) 466-3350

Ask for listed members and leave a short message supporting regulation rather than prohibition.

🏛️ OPTIONAL INPUT

Ohio Board of Pharmacy: https://www.pharmacy.ohio.gov⁠�

CSI: https://business.ohio.gov/CSI⁠�

Quick message: “I am an Ohio resident asking you to oppose blanket bans and support responsible regulation of natural plain leaf kratom.”

Thank you very much for taking the valuable time out of your day and reading this. I am a responsible natural plain leaf kratom consumer myself. I am a 63 year old mother and housewife my career was a nurse's aide. That job is not easy on a little woman. I loved it with all my heart. Kratom has given me my life back. Kratom has been a godsend. In my opinion God created this botanical for humanity to use in a beneficial and responsible manner.

If plain leaf kratom has helped you or anyone you know and love or care about please just take a moment. I am an Ohioan, but the cause for plain kratom has become something much bigger with much more at stake than I ever imagined when I first started advocating. You all have renewed my faith in humanity 💚 🌿l