Mac Haddow

Deadlines & Activity: 📍 VIRGINIA — Deadline April 13th The revised kratom bill is now in the Governor’s hands. 👉 Take action immediately: Tell the Governor to amend or veto this bill before the April 13th deadline. Visit Virginia Page here: protectkratom.org/virginia 📍 KENTUCKY — Urgent: Ban Threat Intensifies Kentucky remains in dire straits. A last-minute push to ban kratom is still active. 👉 What to do: Contact the Governor and urge a veto of any ban legislation Reach out to Senate and House leadership to oppose the ban Go to Protect Kratom to Take action on Kentucky: protectkratom.org/kentucky Find your legislators: legislature.ky.gov/Legislators If you live, work, or do business in Kentucky — your outreach is especially critical right now. 📍 IOWA — Momentum, But Not Over Yet Good news: ban supporters do not currently have the votes to pass a ban. There is strong support in the Senate for a regulatory amendment instead of prohibition. But nothing is final until the session ends. 👉 Keep the pressure on Ask Senate members to: Oppose SF 2192 / HF 2133 in its current form Support a regulatory amendment to keep kratom legal Take action in Iowa: protectkratom.org/iowa Contact Iowa Senators: legis.iowa.gov/legislators/se…

Dear Advocates, The middle of April brings two important opportunities to stand up for kratom—one to advance smart regulation, and one to stop a serious threat. Please review below on what to do and then be sure to share! Next week's meetings: 📍 Delaware – Support the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA) Delaware lawmakers are considering H.B. 332, a bill to properly regulate kratom and protect consumers. 🗓 Date: April 15, 2026 ⏰ Time: 11:30 AM 🏛 Committee: House Health & Human Development Committee 👉 How to take action: Attend the hearing if you’re able Contact committee members and urge support for H.B. 332 & Share your personal story about why kratom matters to you 🔗 Take action in Delaware: protectkratom.org/delaware Your voice can help ensure Delaware chooses regulation over prohibition. 📍 Nevada – Oppose Scheduling Kratom as a Schedule I Substance The Nevada Board of Pharmacy is once again attempting to classify kratom alkaloids as Schedule I, which would effectively ban it. 🗓 Date: Thursday, April 16, 2026 ⏰ Time: 9:00 AM PT 📍 Location: Hyatt Place 1790 East Plumb Lane Reno, NV 89502 💻 Virtual Option: Join via Zoom or dial in: 669-900-6833 Meeting ID: 588 625 6671 👉 How to take action: protectkratom.org/nevada Attend in person! Provide public comment Voice your opposition to scheduling kratom

April State, Local, & Federal Updates youtu.be/dnlOXEYNBpo?si… via @YouTube

🚨 Urgent: Scranton, PA Considering Full Kratom Ban — Take Action ASAP We need your help immediately in Scranton, Pennsylvania. City officials are moving forward with a full kratom ban — including criminalizing possession. This is one of the most extreme proposals we’ve seen 📅 Meeting Details Date: April 7 Time: 6:30 PM EST Location: Scranton City Hall, Council Chambers (2nd Floor) 340 N. Washington Ave, Scranton, PA 18503 What You Can Do Right Now: 👉 Attend the meeting in person if you can Showing up matters. Public presence can influence decisions, especially at the local level. 👉 Contact the Scranton City Council immediately Make your voice heard by visiting: protectkratom.org/pennsylvania 👉 Share your story Let them know how kratom has impacted your life or the lives of others. Personal experiences are powerful and help counter misinformation. 👉 Spread the word Please share this alert with anyone in Pennsylvania—or beyond—who can help speak out. This proposal doesn’t just target sales—it would criminalize responsible consumers. We must act now to ensure lawmakers understand the real consequences of this ordinance.

To help you stay informed and take effective action, the American Kratom Association @TheKratomAssn is hosting a live advocacy webinar: 📅 Monday, April 6 🕣 8:30 PM ET 🔗 Register here: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regist… We’ll break down: The surge of state-level activity What’s happening in Kansas and Kentucky right now The latest on fallout from Sen. Ricketts FDA letter What actions matter most in the coming weeks

The pace of kratom legislation right now is relentless—and we need your voice. Two states now have kratom ban bills sitting on the Governor’s desk: Kansas → Urge a veto: protectkratom.org/kansas Kentucky → A ban was quietly inserted into an unrelated bill without hearings or public input—now heading to the Governor: protectkratom.org/kentucky This is exactly the kind of last-minute maneuvering that bypasses transparency and silences consumers. We cannot let it stand. At the same time, momentum is building at the federal level. Senator Ricketts recently sent a letter to the FDA pushing for kratom scheduling—relying on outdated narratives and media-driven fear rather than current science. This adds urgency to everything we’re seeing in the states. To help you stay informed and take effective action, we’re hosting a live advocacy webinar: 📷 Monday, April 6 📷 8:30 PM ET 📷 Register here: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regist… We’ll break down: The surge of state-level activity What’s happening in Kansas and Kentucky right now The latest on fallout from Sen. Ricketts FDA letter What actions matter most in the coming weeks Your calls, emails, and personal stories are making a difference—especially in moments like this when decisions are being rushed behind closed doors. As we head into the weekend, we also want to say thank you. Whether you’re making calls, sending messages, or sharing your story—you are part of what protects access for millions. Wishing everyone a peaceful weekend and a Happy Easter to all who are celebrating. We hope you’ll join us Monday night as we continue this fight together.

Wrong on all counts. I am here to continue the fight, and until the 7Hope alliance answers the fundamental questions of safety, They will continue to be the source of the problems that we are experiencing with real Kratom being confused with a chemically manipulated compound, that is not Kratom at all. It is true that I’m an old man, but I have lots of fight in me.

While the old man continues to scream at advocates on webinars - we keep loosing states! We MUST unite! #weareallkratom

KDA Dad: Sorry for the delay in responding -- I have been slammed. The goalposts keep moving, and your new set of demands are self-serving and complicated, but I will do my best: 1) I have not seen any evidence or data to support a claim that there are "kratom alone" deaths in healthy people. Is it possible? Maybe, but so far it has not been proven based on the evidence I have reviewed. However, this is why discussions/debates are held to allow viewers to make their own conclusions based on the arguments that are presented. I am willing to face that judgment by viewers. 2) Partially agree, it does not negate that possibility, but there have not been any studies to show kratom itself interacts with some other consumed substance to cause a death. Glad to debate this issue, because it is an important one. 3) This is true across the spectrum for drug-to-drug interactions; drug-to-supplement interactions, etc. This is why the FDA has its FAERS database as an early warning for such interactions and when a cluster of adverse events document an interaction the FDA takes action. We can look to what the FDA has done on kratom interactions -- I am not aware of any. 4) I will take you at your word, but I have no way of verifying that claim. 5) Blame my eyes and ears hearing about support for the KDA by trial lawyers. You can provide your statement that any claim made on the KDA social media platform were lies by the trial attorney. 6) I will take your word on that. I have no independent way to verify that information. 7) This will be an excellent part of the debate. I do not characterize it as a conspiracy in any way. 8) We can discuss this, but there are specific reasons why many product manufacturers in dietary and supplement products that have nothing to do with your assertion. 9) I have no way of confirming this as a fact, but we can discuss it and I accept the general notion. 10) We can legitimately disagree here, and I believe it would be an interesting discussion for viewers. If a family chooses to publicly make a claim about a death being kratom only (and that is only one factor) it seems there is an obligation to produce proof. I have seen many such claims turn out to be false -- I am not saying all are, but the proof is in the documents. A real debate is possible with fair ground rules and civility. I am ready.

Okay, fine, since you aren’t gonna tell the truth…I will. This is proof that Kratom Danger Awareness is funded by an anti-Kratom trial attorney Matt Wetherington. If you are a lawmaker and you are approached by any member from Kratom Danger Awareness about banning/scheduling Kratom, they are paid to approach you and fill you up emotions and not science. The proof of Kratom Danger Awareness being given $1 million dollars of “seed money” in 2023 is in the comments.

Actually, you have no idea what you’re talking about. I consistently tell people that there are trace amounts of 70H in Kratom. What there is not, is a highly synthesized chemically manipulated 70H that is not kratom. The 70H community has been promoting one lie after another about how safe their products are. They had no basis for safety prior to market entry and their own chief scientist admitted it. They violated federal law when they did that. And you want to sit here now and point the finger blame when the accountability comes crashing down on their heads because they are the reason why we are in this mess in so many states and local jurisdictions. And Michele Ross can pedal her nonsense all day long and trying to be anti-AKA. But she refuses to answer the simple question as to why the 70H manufacturers launched their products before meeting the federal safety standards.

Consumer and Retailer Notice: Kratom-related products are now illegal in Ohio, except for products composed solely of mitragynine. For more information, visit: pharmacy.ohio.gov/7OHnotice

@kda_dad @misteaz79 I will stand by for your response.

KDA Dad: If you actually looked at what was happening in the trial you would know that this email from the US Attorney to the Judge in this case was in response to a request for the FDA to provide experts and documents to support the FDA's claim made repeatedly during the trial that kratom was dangerous. The defendant plead guilty to mislabeling the kratom material being imported, so the Judge was considering the request by the government for a substantial prison sentence based on the . The Judge asked for the FDA to justify that precisely to evaluate how dangerous the kratom material was. I know I will not persuade you on any kratom issue, but I think you should at least be accurate.

@Ch52471437Wendy When requested, FDA had the opportunity to take their best shot at proving Kratom was unsafe. Everybody can read their response.

The FDA trial (NCT06072170) was a tiny Phase 1 study in healthy adults with opioid experience. It didn’t prove kratom is safe— it showed “drug liking,” “high,” and “take again.” Real-world risks are far worse, with 1,800+ CDC-reported kratom-involved deaths. Only 40 participants

I am glad to join the conversation for two specific reasons: (1) to correct misstatements of facts that you have advanced (including in your response email that I will address) to bludgeon those who you disagree with; and (2) to help you understand that the information you are being provided by the 7 Hope Alliance and the HART groups are either factually incorrect or deliberately misleading. The complexity of these issues contributes to some of the misunderstandings, but that complexity should not, in my opinion, be used as cover just to justify marketing an unsafe product. On the policy and science landscape in 2016, there were already hundreds of peer-reviewed published articles on the safety of natural kratom leaf products, including the Kronstrand paper that debunked the FDA's leading claim that a pure leaf kratom product was responsible for the deaths of 9 people in a 12-month period. Those deaths were attributable to a deadly dose of O-desmethyltramadol added to the kratom product. There was not a single peer-reviewed published article on the safety of 7-OH as a stand-alone chemically manipulated product. So here are the specific answers to your other questions: Question: Did kratom have human clinical trials, controlled pharmacokinetic studies, or long-term safety data at that time? Response: Human clinical trials are not the standard required for market entry. The standard embedded in the law is for a manufacturer to have a reasonable basis of safety under the conditions of use and even the DEA acknowledged that to be the case or they would have proceeded with the scheduling in 2016. Since 2016, there has been significant new funding of studies on kratom by NIDA -- totaling over $100 million -- that have affirmed the basis for marketing natural leaf kratom products. The FDA itself did their Dose Finding Study -- that was human trial -- and there have been additional human trials on specific safety limits on natural kratom leaf products. Question: If not, why is a stricter requirement suddenly being imposed on one naturally occurring alkaloid that has always been part of the same plant you fought to protect? Response: 7-OH is not a naturally occurring alkaloid in the kratom plant. 7-OH is not present at any detectable level in the plant. 7-OH is a metabolite that occurs (1) in the oxidization during drying of the kratom plant material, and then it occurs only in trace amounts that are only detectable with high-level testing methods. Similarly, 7-OH is produced during the processing by the liver, but again, not at any dangerous level. 7-OH is not a "part of the same plant [I] have fought to protect." To be clear, 7-OH products on the market are chemically manipulated -- using high concentrations of chlorine based solvents or similar chemical manipulation (check with Vince Sanders who publicly described the process as using chemicals similar to what is used to shock your backyard pool). The compound produced is not kratom. Question: On your question about sublingual and chewable formulations: bypassing first-pass metabolism is not unique to 7-OH. Every fast-acting kratom extract, enhanced product, and standardized mitragynine formulation alters absorption pathways. None of those categories required premarket evidence packages either. So again, why is this threshold being applied only to 7-OH? Response: The AKA has reported over 120 kratom manufacturers who use unlawful therapeutic claims to market their products, particularly those who use product formulations on extracts -- that use non-FDA approved food grade solvents to produce a more powerful kratom product -- because we believe consumers should be protected. The production of most improperly formulated kratom products do attempt to bypass the first-pass metabolism because natural kratom leaf products rely on the liver processing to produce the intended effects. Each of these manufacturers should meet the federal standard for their product formulations. The FDA has determined, as of July 29, 2025, natural leaf products are not the focus, but 7-OH products are. The fact is the the pharmacologic effects of natural leaf kratom products, and those properly extracted products (using FDA approve food grade solvents) are well defined and do not produce the effects that have been identified with chemically manipulated 7-OH products that do produce euphoria and potential respiratory suppression. In short, 7-OH is not kratom, and no general comparisons should be drawn to validate 7-OH products on the marketplace today. I believe you are incorrect in the statement that "fast acting kratom extract, enhanced product, and standardized mitragynine formulation alters absorption pathways. None of those categories required premarket evidence packages either." Every product must meet the federal standard prior to marketing. You miss the critical fact that the pharmacology on kratom is vastly different from chemically manipulated 7-OH products where mitragynine only occurs in trace amounts -- entirely flipping the pharmacology and produces the threat to consumer safety that demands a reasonable basis for safety under the conditions of use. Importantly, the unique factor here is the Chief Scientific Officer of HART publicly stated in January 2025 that there was no science on 7-OH prior to market entry in 2023 and it was their hope to have some studies done by mid-2025 or in 2026. Fine, withdraw the 7-OH products until the standard is met. Question: And finally, why are you so invested in the downfall of 7-OH while consistently leaving out the most important scientific fact whenever you talk about it in hearings, zoom calls, and news article comments. 7-OH is a natural alkaloid and the primary active metabolite of mitragynine. Leaving that out misleads people into thinking 7-OH is an unrelated lab-created compound when it is a naturally occurring part of kratom’s pharmacology. Why leave that out every time you discuss it? Response: 7-OH is not a natural alkaloid of the kratom plant and it not the primary active metabolite of mitragynine, and that is the premise used by 7-OH advocates that misleads consumers. I have stated that 7-OH is a chemically manipulated compound that is not a kratom product because that is true. 7-OH is a "lab created compound" and you can confirm that with Vince Sanders on the chemicals used to catalyze the oxidization to produce 7-OH products. The "naturally occurring" levels of 7-OH in the drying process of the leaves, and then the natural oxidization that occurs until the plant material is produced into a finished products are typically undetectable with testing methods. Contrast that to a product that is majority 7-OH with a powerful pharmacologic effect with a standard majority mitragynine product. Question: So pretty much you’re calling for 7oh to be outlawed because they don’t have the standards and studies you believe they’re required to have for market entry. Meanwhile the Kratom products that you lobby for including natural leaf powder and mitragynine alkaloid extract, didn’t have them upon market entry either and still don’t have them. Response: That is incorrect, and I have responded specifically to that earlier in this discussion. Question: Isn’t that hypocritical Mac…and not just a little bit hypocritical but straight up hypocrisy? I was always taught “those who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones” Response: That question relies on the accuracy of your claims on the safety of 7-OH. As I have outlined, your repeating claims of 7 Hope Alliance and HART do not make it true. The Chief Science Officer of HART made the crystal clear. Question: Which begs the question, why on Gods good green earth are you requiring these things on 7oh when the Kratom products endorsed by the AKA doesn’t have them either? Response: The AKA does not endorse any products. We do have a GMP program that required an independent auditor to inspect and verify the manufacturing facility for a kratom produce meets or exceeds specific GMP standards that are modeled after FDA GMPs for dietary supplement products. Question: And to address you trying to discredit me by labeling me a bully and one who points fingers at ppl I disagree with…I find it ironic coming from you and a bit comical. For context @misteaz79 and I have dialogue w one another and although we disagree and comments could get a little heated on both ends. I’ve told her that I thought she was very intelligent and if not for this subject we probably would get along great. I don’t dislike or have any ill will towards her. I don’t think she would consider me to be a bully. As far as my tone is concerned that’s just how you’re interpreting what I’m saying there’s nothing I can do about that. Response: You make a fair point that perhaps the passion in such discussions gives rise to statements that should be viewed in context. You, however, discredit yourself with your statement that you find it "ironic coming from [me] and a bit comical." Because we disagree you go on the attack on me personally. I have been respectful in this response to you because I truly believe you have been misled by 7 Hope Alliance and HART. I was the one who set up the debate with Jeff Smith of HART at the CHAMPS show -- that I believe you attended. The video is publicly available and is the proof that your claim about me somehow being comical in the way I address these issues is completely invalid. Those are the traits of a bully who make such groundless accusations when it is just a disagreement on issues. It the shoe fits . . .

Mac, first I want to say thank you for joining this discussion but, before I answer your questions, I want to be sure that you’re applying the same standard to all kratom alkaloids and products. In 2016, when you publicly defended kratom from federal scheduling, what evidence existed that would have met the federal ‘market entry’ standard that you are now demanding for 7-OH? Did kratom have human clinical trials, controlled pharmacokinetic studies, or long-term safety data at that time? Does it even have that now? If not, why is a stricter requirement suddenly being imposed on one naturally occurring alkaloid that has always been part of the same plant you fought to protect? On your question about sublingual and chewable formulations: bypassing first-pass metabolism is not unique to 7-OH. Every fast-acting kratom extract, enhanced product, and standardized mitragynine formulation alters absorption pathways. None of those categories required premarket evidence packages either. So again, why is this threshold being applied only to 7-OH? And finally, why are you so invested in the downfall of 7-OH while consistently leaving out the most important scientific fact whenever you talk about it in hearings, zoom calls, and news article comments. 7-OH is a natural alkaloid and the primary active metabolite of mitragynine. Leaving that out misleads people into thinking 7-OH is an unrelated lab-created compound when it is a naturally occurring part of kratom’s pharmacology. Why leave that out every time you discuss it? So pretty much you’re calling for 7oh to be outlawed because they don’t have the standards and studies you believe they’re required to have for market entry. Meanwhile the Kratom products that you lobby for including natural leaf powder and mitragynine alkaloid extract, didn’t have them upon market entry either and still don’t have them. Isn’t that hypocritical Mac…and not just a little bit hypocritical but straight up hypocrisy? I was always taught “those who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones” Which begs the question, why on Gods good green earth are you requiring these things on 7oh when the Kratom products endorsed by the AKA doesn’t have them either? And to address you trying to discredit me by labeling me a bully and one who points fingers at ppl I disagree with…I find it ironic coming from you and a bit comical. For context @misteaz79 and I have dialogue w one another and although we disagree and comments could get a little heated on both ends. I’ve told her that I thought she was very intelligent and if not for this subject we probably would get along great. I don’t dislike or have any ill will towards her. I don’t think she would consider me to be a bully. As far as my tone is concerned that’s just how you’re interpreting what I’m saying there’s nothing I can do about that.

Moms against Kratom/Kratom Danger Awareness is an Astroturf organization

Nico: It is very easy to point fingers at those you disagree with and exploit the fact that individual may not be familiar with some published study or other related information. Now it's your turn. Please tell me what science on 7-OH that has been done other than what is funded by that industry? The Beagle Study? The truth is found in the credibility of the scientific methods and processes that are followed in the study design. That is the real test. You want to assert a very aggressive tone with others and just bully them. Well, let's see how that goes from here. Just answer these questions: (1) What evidence and data was available on 7-OH to justify market entry under federal requirements?; (2) What current evidence is available to justify the safety of product formulations for sublingual and chewable tablets -- particularly given they bypass the liver and go immediately to the bloodstream? That should get us started. I am glad to have the discussion.

I just don’t think you’re capable of an honest conversation. Oh you mean the analysis that was done by Pinney and Associates which hold no authority and is just a position paper. Hasn’t Pinney and Associates worked w the AKA in the passed?….hmmm I think so, ona few occasions. Wouldn’t that be considered biased? For you friends to write up an 8 factor analysis paper against 7oh to try and “get the ball rolling”? 🤦‍♂️ it’s a position paper written by friends of those at the AKA try again

The American Kratom Association continues to advocate for responsible regulations on natural kratom leaf products. The dissemination of disinformation that leads to questions, or draft legislation, that requires providing evidence and data to reveal the truth is a typical part of advocacy. Every effort we are taking to responsible protect consumers is going fine, thank you. The FDA has determined the real culprit is (1) 7-OH; (2) adulterated kratom products; or (3 polydrug use. Deflecting from the truth, not matter how tragic individual circumstances may be, only feeds an extremist viewpoint that you have adopted. The irresponsible use of any substance can lead to an adverse event or fatality. That is why consumer education should be the first priority -- not extremist advocacy based on flawed information.

How is this working out for you now? Utah’s has changed apparently…

The AKA engaged in specific negotiations with Georgia Representative Townsend, Mr. Wetherington, and a number of other stakeholders on provisions of a proposed kratom bill in Georgia, and following that Mr. Wetherington posted a fake photo taken many years ago of my wife, myself, and a person purported to be Mr. Wetherington -- that was deliberately manipulated to replace the actual picture of Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) with a younger Matt Wetherington. The clear intent was to falsely portray a long-standing "friendship" between Mr. Wetherington and myself. Completely fake.

The American Kratom Association never collaborated with Matt Wetherington either…

Ms. Ross: Once again you make a completely groundless claim that these bans are the result of actions by the AKA. They are not. As you know, but you choose to deliberately mislead people, the AKA include limits on 7-OH in our KCPA advocacy that began in 2019 -- 4 years before the chemically manipulated 7-OH products were placed on the market. That product entry did not have the required evidence and data to establish a reasonable basis for safety under the conditions of use (confirmed by the lead 7-OH scientist) and insisted on calling their products kratom -- when they are not. The enforcement attention by the FDA and states to ban 7-OH is the direct result of the failure of those manufacturers to meet federal law on this issue.

California just banned ALL KRATOM & kratom alkaloids products including 7-OH. cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OPA/P… Thanks @TheKratomAssn for protecting your corporate interests instead of kratom consumers!

Cute, but not grounded in reality. Everything I’m reading about 7OH is that it has therapeutic benefits which, of course, Kratom can, but it is not necessarily the only purpose for which people consume Kratom. The argument supports the submission of a new drug application for 7-OH, not allowing it to be marketed with these illegal therapeutic claims under current federal law. Equally important, the nonsense about the AKA being “big kratom” is completely unwarranted. The AKA started in 2019 to advocate for limitations on 7-OH content in products. It was then, and continues to be, about protecting consumers so have fun with your silly narrative, trying to bash the AKA, but it gets you nowhere.

@HART7OH @RFKJr_Official

Why is @RFKJr_Official being an obstacle in the fight against opioid addiction? Big Kratom has effectively lobbied him to push for bans on its new popular competitor because it impacts Big Kratom's bottom line! Read more > bit.ly/4ndMZQR