1. Safety Classification - Safety Class 2b, 2c - Interaction Class B This entry specifically focuses on traditional kratom leaf preparations (chewed leaf, tea, decoction), not highly concentrated extracts or enhanced products. 2. Traditional Use Context - Indigenous to Southeast Asia. - Leaves traditionally: - Commonly used similarly to coffee by laborers for endurance and stress resilience. - Typically consumed 1–4 servings per day in traditional settings. Important distinction: The handbook differentiates plain leaf from modern concentrated extracts or alkaloid-enhanced products, which fall outside the scope of this safety review. 3. Alkaloid Composition Kratom leaf contains: - 0.5–3% total alkaloids by dry weight. - Primary alkaloid: - Other notable alkaloids: 7-Hydroxymitragynine (7-OH): - Present naturally at trace levels (0.00–0.06% w/w) in leaf. - Environmental factors (light, soil, water) influence alkaloid variability. The “red/green/white vein” marketing claims: - Current analytical data show no significant cross-strain alkaloid differences. - Reported effect differences may be driven more by marketing than chemistry. 4. Standard Serving Range Traditional dried leaf intake: - ~0.2–4.3 grams per serving (based on leaf weight) - U.S. surveys: - Typical mitragynine exposure: 5. Dependency & Withdrawal Key conclusion: dose- and duration-dependent. At moderate intake: - ≤5 grams per serving: negative effects uncommon - <4 glasses of tea/day: withdrawal unlikely Reported withdrawal symptoms (when present): - Muscle aches - Insomnia - Runny nose - Anxiety - Irritability - Mood disturbance Severity is generally described as milder than classical opioid withdrawal in the surveyed literature. 6. Adverse Events Mild to Moderate Effects (more common at higher doses): - Nausea - Dizziness - Fatigue - Headache - Insomnia - Jitteriness Higher-Dose or Non-Traditional Products:

We had a local Chamber of Commerce business after-hours get-together. This is the first of many that we are hosting. We will be hosting a community kratom documentary and movie night this year, too. Exciting things to come!

The meeting focused on Christopher's recent successful Kratom education event at the chamber, where he presented to approximately 30-40 people and received positive feedback. Christopher shared that a county official expressed interest in future presentations and requested he educate the community about Kratom. The group discussed various Kratom products, including extracts and 7OH, and debated serving sizes and packaging requirements. They also explored alternative uses for Kratom, such as topical applications for pain relief, and shared personal experiences with different Kratom products and their effects. The conversation concluded with discussions about the challenges of educating retailers about Kratom and the importance of proper product labeling and dosage instructions. Summary Kratom Education and Community Outreach Christopher hosted a successful event with about 30-40 attendees, where he presented information about Kratom and addressed their questions. A representative from Cumberland County expressed interest in having Christopher give a future presentation about Kratom to their community. Christopher shared that he used a 12-minute educational video from Oliver Grunman of the University of Florida to provide balanced information about Kratom's uses and potential risks. https://vimeo.com/1164808691?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci Kratom Regulation and Advocacy Strategies The group discussed the importance of simplifying complex information, particularly in educational and regulatory contexts, with Christopher emphasizing the need for clear labeling and consistent measurement standards for kratom products. They explored the effectiveness of personal stories and local advocacy in influencing legislative outcomes, highlighting successful community engagement and testimony across various states. The conversation also touched on the challenges of keeping websites and information up to date amid rapid regulatory changes, as well as the potential for text message updates to improve communication efficiency.

Hi everyone! I hope you are keeping warm and safe. Our episode about kratom for animals is on a list at Pod Radar for best podcasts of the week, and we would appreciate any votes! https://thepodradar.com/ Thank you in advance!

Weekly Tea Talks Summary This week’s Tea Talk focused on advocacy fatigue, regulatory momentum, and why natural, plain-leaf kratom remains the most defensible and responsible path forward. We discussed how advocacy has become nonstop—hearings, town councils, subcommittees—and how tools like recorded Zoom summaries help keep up when attendance isn’t possible. A key takeaway from recent meetings (including Massachusetts and Georgia): momentum is building toward banning synthetic derivatives while allowing natural kratom leaf to remain legal, albeit with guardrails. A major theme was the critical distinction between natural kratom leaf and synthetic or highly altered derivatives. The group emphasized that these products are not interchangeable, do not share the same safety profiles, and should not be regulated the same way. Education remains the biggest gap policymakers face. We also covered: - Why whole-plant kratom is historically, scientifically, and practically easier to defend - The role of responsible regulation (labeling, testing, age limits, GMPs) versus bans - How poor farming practices, over-harvesting, young trees, fillers, and shortcuts degraded kratom quality post-2018 - Why old-growth, wild-harvested trees produce a fuller alkaloid profile and better outcomes - The importance of farm-to-table traceability, batch testing, and release testing to protect consumers - How misinformation and sensational headlines continue to conflate leaf with synthetics - Why “less is more” remains foundational to responsible kratom use - The need for community-level education, storytelling, and calm, factual advocacy We also had a deep discussion on strain differences, fermented (dark) reds, dosing nuance, digestion, gut health, and why many people don’t need extracts when quality leaf and proper education are in place. The call to action was clear: - Stay grounded - Stay factual - Support responsible standards - Keep telling the truth—even when it’s exhausting