Colorado Governor Polis Signs Bill Regulating Kratom Kratom Consumer Protection Act designed to ensure kratom sold in Colorado is pure by prohibiting adulterated products and identifying bad actors in industry Washington, D.C. (May 31, 2022) – Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed into law Senate Bill 22-120, the Regulation of Kratom Processors, modeled after Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA) legislation passed in several other states, which will regulate the production, distribution and sale of kratom products in the state. Kratom is a plant originating from southeast Asia that is used by millions of Americans for a variety of purposes including pain management, to increase energy and to help individuals taper off their opioid based medication or pain killer dependency. Kratom can be consumed in many forms, like beverages and capsules. A recent eight-factor analysis found that kratom has a significantly lower potential for abuse than opioids and similar drugs. “Colorado is the eighth state to pass kratom regulation and the third just this year, along with Missouri and Oregon. Ensuring kratom products are pure and unadulterated is critically important to protecting consumers across the state and will get us one step closer to federal kratom regulation. The passage and signage of this bill shows the commitment of Colorado lawmakers to protecting the increasingly growing number of kratom consumers in the state,” said Mac Haddow, Senior Fellow on Public Policy at the American Kratom Association. When it takes effect in July 2023, this law will prohibit the sale of kratom to those under the age of 21 and will also prohibit the adulteration of kratom products with controlled substances like fentanyl. In addition, it will set standards for product labeling and mandates fines for offenses of these regulations and will provide the Colorado Department of Revenue with regulatory oversight. Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, has also been vocal in her support for continued research on the safety of kratom. Additionally, emerging research from the University of Florida is exploring whether kratom could be a tool used to help end the opioid crisis, which killed over 80,000 Americans in 2021. | 
