WASHINGTON, March 1, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A total of 26,047 Americans signed a petition to Donald Trump urging the new president to halt the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)/Food and Drug Administration (FDA) push to criminalize kratom. The online petition was launched by the American Kratom Association (AKA) on December 19, 2016.

In late November, AKA released a report by one of the world's leading addiction experts concluding that kratom has no more potential for abuse and dependence than nutmeg and St. John's Wort.

The petition and list of signers is being presented to the White House today by the American Kratom Association.

American Kratom Association Director Susan Ash said: "We are sending a strong message from the kratom community to the new White House that the attack on kratom producers and consumers must end. There is no room in an Administration committed to limited government and allowing responsible adults to live free lives for the DEA's regulatory overkill response to kratom. Coming as this does just weeks after the DEA comment period attracted 23,000 some comments that were 99 percent opposed to a kratom ban, the message for President Trump could not be clearer."

The petition to the new President reads in part as follows:

"Your promise to end excessive government regulations and restore the limited role of government in the lives of Americans is the reason that we are appealing to you today.

The three-five million Americans who choose to use the natural herb kratom to maintain their well-being desperately need your help. We are concerned that the Drug Enforcement Administration may soon choose to curb access to this herb … If the DEA has not acted by January 21st, we ask that you put an end to regulatory proceedings targeting kratom.

The DEA and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have openly declared war on kratom consumers, and these agencies are blatantly abusing their powers to criminalize both those who produce and sell kratom products, and those who purchase and consume them. These federal regulators are doing all they can to deny American consumers their freedom to make individual choices on the safe products they want to use to maintain their health and well-being.

Despite credible evidence proving kratom is no more addictive than a cup of coffee, and its use presents no threat to the public health, the DEA and the FDA are continuing their efforts to classify kratom as a dangerous drug – with the same classification as heroin or cocaine.

Who are we?

We are veterans … and lawyers ... and factory workers … and school teachers … and health care professionals. We are mothers and fathers … and grandparents and senior citizens.

We are the real face of America. Our choice to consume kratom does not make us 'drug abusers' any more than drinking a cup of coffee would …"

The American Kratom Association is proud to be playing an instrumental role in helping to coordinate the broad-based national opposition to the DEA's attempt to effectively ban kratom. In addition to creating the Petition Trump For Kratom campaign, AKA also:

ABOUT AKA



The America Kratom Association, a consumer-based non-profit organization, is here to set the record straight, giving a voice to those suffering and protecting our rights to possess and consume kratom. AKA represents tens of thousands of Americans, each of whom have a unique story to tell about the virtues of kratom and its positive effects on their lives. www.americankratom.org



SOURCE American Kratom Association, Washington, DC

Related Links

http://www.americankratom.org

