What is the American Kratom Association (AKA)?

History of the American Kratom Association

The American Kratom Association (AKA) was founded in 2014 by a group of kratom vendors, enthusiasts, and consumers who were concerned about efforts to ban or restrict kratom in the United States. At the time, there were several states and municipalities that had already banned kratom, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) was considering placing kratom on its list of substances under Schedule I controlled substances, which would have made it illegal at the federal level. The AKA was established as a nonprofit organization to support the legal status and accessibility of kratom and also to push for its secure and ethical Kratom consumption in order to combat these initiatives. The members of the organization felt that prohibiting or restricting the use of kratom would be detrimental to people who were dealing with conditions like chronic pain, substance abuse, stress, mental disorders, and other similar problems because kratom had the ability to help people in drug substitution therapy. Kratom often helps with substance withdrawal and is one of the best treatments for substance use, as seen by a sample of substance users who used a compulsive substance or had substance use disorders. Since its inception, the AKA has grown to become one of the top institutions advocating for the safety and availability of kratom. In order to inform them about kratom and its possible advantages as well as to allay any worries they may have about its use, the group has collaborated with researchers, policymakers, as well as consumers. In order to guarantee that kratom products are reputable and safe to use, the AKA has also backed industry standards and kratom studies. One of the reasons why there is so much speculation about the biology of kratom is that there are not enough studies to back their effects. Consequently, policymakers become hesitant to understand how kratom works. Fortunately, the AKA is working toward sponsoring studies so that more can be learned about the benefits and effects of kratom or the mitragyna speciosa or mytragyna speciosa plant. The AKA keeps up its fight for the protection of the rights of customers to access this herbal remedy even though there are still continuing attempts to outlaw or limit kratom in some regions of the United States. Results from an online survey and a kratom report suggest that many kratom users have greatly benefited from the therapeutic potential of the natural product.

Founders of the American Kratom Association

The American Kratom Association (AKA) was founded in 2014 by a group of kratom vendors, enthusiasts, and consumers who were concerned about efforts to ban or restrict kratom in the United States. Some of the founders of the AKA include:

Susan Ash: Susan Ash is the founder of the AKA and has long been involved in legal battles against kratom. She was the AKA chairman for a long time and strived to make kratom known across the nation for its wide range of benefits.

Mac Haddow: Mac Haddow is a lobbyist and advocate who has worked on behalf of the dietary supplement industry for many years. He also helped the organization to flourish and for kratom to be widely acknowledged.

Dave Herman: Dave Herman is a kratom vendor and an advocate who has been involved in the kratom community for many years. After Susan Ash, Herman became the chairman of the AKA and worked toward fighting for kratom.

Paul Kemp: Paul Kemp is a kratom vendor and an advocate who has been involved in the kratom community for many years. He was the vice chairman of the AKA.

All these people are founders of the AKA and have helped the organization to be where it is today. However, presently, there are many other leaders in the organization.

Matt Salmon: Salmon is the present chairman of the Board of Directors of the AKA. He has made tireless efforts to stop attempts at the kratom ban and for the freedom of the consumers.

Chris Bake: Chris Bake is a board member of the AKA and strongly supports the use of alternate or natural medicines.

These individuals, along with other kratom advocates and regular kratom users, came together to form the AKA in order to promote the safe and responsible use of kratom, as well as to protect consumers’ rights to access this natural product with positive health effects. Since its founding, the AKA has become one of the leading organizations in Kratom advocacy, working to promote kratom safety and accessibility in the United States and to discuss the potential of kratom.

Mandates of the American Kratom Association?

The American Kratom Association (AKA) has several mandates that guide its mission and activities. Some of these mandates that address the safety impacts of kratom include:

Protecting the rights of consumers to have access to safe and legal kratom products: The AKA fights to keep kratom legal and for it to be easily accessible to customers who wish to use it instead of prescribed drugs, either as a recreational drug or for medical conditions. The use of natural medicines like kratom is becoming more prominent, thanks to the tireless efforts of organizations like the AKA.

Educating the public about the benefits and potential risks of kratom: Good decisions come from good information. And, that is why, the AKA tries to educate not just the customers but also the policymakers so that they can make better legal decisions regarding kratom. They also discuss and disclose the potential risks associated with kratom and how to use it responsibly so as to not experience any major adverse effects such as kratom withdrawal, behaviors after kratom, cardiotoxicity of kratom, kratom use disorder, risk behaviors, risk of withdrawal or other complexities of kratom use. The organization also discusses kratom use patterns and drug interactions so that customers are educated about the doses and estimates of kratom use. Sometimes, users of kratom experience withdrawal, especially when taken in large doses, which is why the dose is important. The AKA conducts anonymous surveys and surveys of people who use kratom and also tries to understand to what extent people use kratom. It also works with health professionals and institutions like the National Center For Complementary And Integrative Health, The national Institutes Of Health, the Expert Committee On Drug Dependence, and the National Center On Health Statistics to understand the health impact of kratom and the long-term health effects of kratom and the Implications For Drug Substitution therapy for illicit drug users who used illicit drugs.

Supporting research into the safety and efficacy of kratom: As mentioned previously, there is not much research or evidence on kratom which makes it more difficult for customers and lawmakers to come to a health decision due to safety issues. Therefore, the AKA strives to do more studies on kratom and understand fully how it works and what benefits and risks the exposure to kratom offers, and its potential applications in the treatment of various health conditions. It also studies kratom use prevalence and other effects of the drug of concern.

Advocating for kratom-friendly policies at the local, state, and federal levels: The AKA also works to keep kratom legality and looks after the market for kratom to make sure that the manufacturing is done in a safe and consistent manner. Moreover, the AKA promotes the motivations for kratom use in front of the law.

American Kratom Association GMP

The AKA has developed the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards for kratom vendors, which are voluntary guidelines designed to ensure that kratom products are produced safely and consistently. The AKA also provides a vendor certification program to help consumers identify reputable kratom suppliers who adhere to the GMP standards and understand the impacts of kratom use and also avoid Kratom Products Withsalmonella.

American Kratom Association Contact Info

Address: 5501 Merchants View Sq 202, Haymarket, Virginia, 20169, United States

Phone number: (804) 552-1252

Website: American Kratom Association

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Americankratomassociation/

Photo Credits: Uomo Vitruviano

MitWellness is a proud member of the American Kratom Association and is a certified vendor that always maintains quality standards.