Mar 27 (edited) • Christopher's Tea Talks
Christopher’s Weekly Kratom Tea Talks-Community Support Group-Episode 34 March 26, 2026
Quick recap
The meeting focused on discussions about ongoing kratom legislation and regulatory challenges across multiple states. Participants shared updates on various bills in Tennessee, Delaware, Kansas, and Massachusetts, with particular concern about pending legislation in Tennessee. The group discussed the rise of 7-OH (7-hydroxymitragynine) as a replacement alkaloid in kratom products and how this has complicated regulatory efforts.
Christopher shared insights about industry trends, including changes at trade shows and the emergence of new products trying to circumvent bans. The conversation also covered the challenges of advocating for kratom, including dealing with misinformation and opposition from KDA (Kratom Danger Awareness) members. Participants expressed frustration with the regulatory process and shared strategies for educating policymakers and the public about kratom's safety and benefits.
Summary
Informal Team Check-in Meeting
Participants discussed weather conditions, with Angela mentioning severe weather, including tornado watches in her area, while Christopher noted pleasant weather in his location. The meeting appeared to be an informal check-in, with participants joining at different times, including Christopher, who joined late while managing his dogs outside.
Kratom for Pet Pain Management
The group discussed using Kratom for pets, particularly for managing pain and mobility issues in dogs. Christopher shared his experience giving Kratom to his dog for 7 years due to knee problems, explaining the dosage and administration methods. The conversation also touched on weather patterns and seasonal transitions, before ending with a discussion about recent media coverage regarding Kratom safety concerns, with Christopher sharing his comments on news articles about hospitalizations related to natural supplements.
Kratom Regulation Discussion
The group discussed recent legislative developments regarding kratom regulations in Delaware and other states. Christopher explained that Delaware's bill has not yet passed and is still under discussion, with the focus shifting away from criminal penalties toward restricting access in convenience stores and gas stations rather than banning kratom entirely. The participants debated whether kratom is targeted at young people, with Christopher and others noting that it's unlikely to appeal to children due to its taste and the fact that most young people are unaware of it. The conversation also touched on regulatory challenges and the need for proper information sharing about kratom, with Christopher mentioning his efforts to provide accurate information and links on social media platforms.
Kratom Ban State-Level Efforts
The team discussed ongoing efforts to address multiple state-level kratom bans, with Christopher sharing his experience contacting officials in Kansas and Massachusetts. Christopher detailed his communication with Lauren Buck from Revere's Health and Human Services, who indicated she would share his information with the board ahead of an upcoming meeting. The discussion highlighted the challenge of maintaining momentum across multiple targets compared to previous focused campaigns, with Christopher noting that having many targets makes it difficult to generate the same level of coordinated action.
Public Speaking and Social Media
Christopher discussed strategies for effective public speaking during limited time slots, emphasizing the importance of adapting content based on what others have already covered and highlighting personal stories to make a stronger impact. He shared insights from a recent testimony in Delaware where a family member's support significantly influenced the audience. Christopher also expressed frustration over social media criticism, emphasizing that his advocacy work is driven by passion for truth and science rather than financial gain. Mike mentioned deactivating his Facebook due to ongoing issues with posts being reported, and Christopher noted that their Facebook and YouTube accounts were shut down in late 2023 due to old posts, despite not engaging in sales activities.
Pro-7-OH Commercial Discussion
Christopher shared a video of a pro-7-O-H commercial that aired on Fox News advocating for science-based regulation to combat opioid addiction. The group discussed the commercial's content and noted the contrast with other opinions on opioid regulation. Christopher agreed to send the video to the team members via email.
Kratom Legislative Regulation Efforts
The group discussed ongoing legislative efforts regarding kratom regulation, including a letter from 11 senators to the FDA requesting a ban on kratom and separate federal and state bills targeting specific compounds like 7-hydroxymitragynine (70H). Christopher shared concerns about the complexity of multiple concurrent bills and the challenges of keeping track of various legislative actions across different states. The discussion concluded with Christopher sharing a 2018 FDA article about adulterated kratom products being spiked with morphine, oxycodone, and increased 7-hydroxymitragynine concentrations, highlighting the distinction between natural kratom and contaminated products.
Kratom Product Market History Discussion
Christopher shared evidence that 70H has been on the market since at least 2018, contradicting claims that it only appeared in 2023. He discussed how many kratom companies have emerged and disappeared over the years, with many products containing additives beyond kratom. Christopher also mentioned observing a new product called DHM (dihydromitragynine) at a trade show, which he identified as a 70H replacement, noting that it was labeled "for research purposes only."
Kratom Regulation Discussion
Christopher and Robin discussed the regulation of Kratom, noting that if regulations had been implemented earlier, such as the Kratom Consumer Protection Act in 2020-21, many current issues could have been avoided. Christopher shared how the Kratom industry evolved from a few companies in 2020 to over 30 by 2025, with a notable shift in atmosphere at trade shows due to regulatory concerns and law enforcement presence. The conversation also touched on the comparison between hemp and cannabis products, with Christopher explaining that hemp provides a different experience for some users who may have anxiety from traditional cannabis.
Hemp Regulations and Medicare Pilot
Christopher discussed the pushback against hemp regulations, noting that the hemp industry is doing well in delaying implementation, though the final outcome remains uncertain. He highlighted tensions between the hemp and cannabis industries, and shared information about a Medicare pilot program in Kentucky that allows certain accountable care organizations to provide up to $500 annually in hemp-derived CBD products to eligible Medicare beneficiaries. The program involves companies like Cornbread Hemp and requires physician recommendations for products containing up to 3 milligrams of THC per serving.
Kratom Regulation and Safety Discussion
The group discussed challenges with government regulation of kratom, particularly focusing on how regulatory agencies like KDA present information about kratom-related deaths. Christopher expressed frustration with what he sees as misleading statistics and unverified claims about kratom's dangers, noting that many deaths attributed to kratom actually involve multiple substances and that kratom itself has not been proven to be fatal when used alone.
The discussion highlighted the need for more scientific evidence and better standards in discussing kratom safety, with participants sharing resources from researchers like Cornel Stanciu and Trongyuan, who have been studying kratom and related substances.https://vimeo.com/1177768757?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci
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Christopher’s Weekly Kratom Tea Talks-Community Support Group-Episode 34 March 26, 2026
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