Commentary by Matthew Lowe, Executive Director, Global Kratom Coalition

Connecticut Must Not Schedule Leaf Kratom: HB 6855 Fails Consumers and Science Alike

As the Executive Director of the Global Kratom Coalition, I speak every day with people who
rely on leaf kratom as part of their wellness routine to improve energy, focus and live more
productive lives. That’s why I’m alarmed by Connecticut House Bill 6855, which—while
promoted as a cannabis and pharmacy regulatory update—contains hidden provisions that
could devastate thousands of responsible adults in Connecticut. Tucked into the bill’s language
is an unwarranted effort to schedule Mitragyna speciosa, commonly known as kratom, and
7-hydroxymitragynine, one of its minor alkaloids, as a controlled substance.

Let me be clear: leaf kratom, in its natural leaf form, is not the same as the dangerous
concentrated or synthetic products that are being sold as “gas station heroin.” There is no
scientific justification for lumping traditional, unaltered botanical kratom with lab-created,
opioid-mimicking drugs like 7-hydroxymitragynine or mitragynine pseudoindoxyl.

The same can be said for novel concentrated kratom extract products that can be found in gas
stations and convenience stores. Yet HB 6855 does just that, granting the Department of
Consumer Protection sweeping authority to schedule all forms of kratom.

The language concerning kratom was included in a 32-page bill that sought to regulate
intoxicating hemp that regained life in the last two days of session and was rushed to be
passed. As such, kratom consumers and advocates were left flat footed, unable to weigh in on
this important and complex issue.

The regulation of kratom is not something that can be dealt with as an afterthought – it requires
rigorous debate, scientific presentations and all stakeholders at the table.This vague and overly
broad language will not protect consumers—it will hurt them. In Connecticut this was not the
case and now hundreds of thousands of consumers are left stranded.

In fact, an estimated 250,000 Connecticut residents use kratom and 128 million Americans are
protected by kratom consumer safety laws. Seventeen states and counting have passed
regulatory frameworks that preserve access while implementing strict labeling, testing, and age
restrictions. Colorado and Nebraska just did so with bipartisan support. Connecticut should
follow their lead.

Legislators can play a critical role in enabling kratom consumers to live better and more
productive lives. There is life before they found leaf kratom, which was filled with hardship and
trouble, and then a life renewed with leaf kratom where they were able to live a life that they
wanted. Banning the very product that is helping people live better lives defies logic and
undermines the lived experience of these consumers.

Kratom, in its natural form, does not merit scheduling. Every expert body has
rejected a ban on natural leaf kratom, including the U.S. DEA (2016), FDA (2018), and the
World Health Organization (2021). In addition, a recent FDA study showed leaf kratom, in its
natural form, is safe, with the study leading to no serious adverse events. Additionally, the FDA
has stated in federal court that it had not yet determined that leaf kratom is dangerous.

So why is Connecticut now moving to criminalize this plant—without debate, due process, or the
distinction between natural, concentrated and synthetic products? The answer, unfortunately,
seems to be a growing confusion fueled by bad actors. Yes, there are unscrupulous vendors
selling potent, synthetic derivatives labeled as kratom. These are not kratom. They are
dangerous chemical compounds that hijack the plant’s name but offer none of its safety profile.
They are the real “gas station heroin” products that deserve to be banned—and we support that.

What HB 6855 fails to do is draw that critical line. Instead, it threatens to eliminate access to
natural kratom for all consumers, pushing them into unregulated black markets. Worse still, this
legislation was fast-tracked in the final 72 hours of the session with no opportunity for kratom
consumers to weigh in. That is not how science-based policy should be made.

I also want to be constructive. Our Kratom Consumer Advisory Council has outlined four best
practices that form the basis of responsible kratom policy: prohibit synthetic additives, require
third-party lab testing, restrict sales to only adults over 21, and mandate proper labeling. These
are not controversial. In fact, they mirror the same principles used to regulate dietary
supplements and herbal products across the country.

I urge Governor Lamont to take a close look at this legislation and remove kratom from HB 6855 – even if it requires a veto. At minimum, we ask that the State indefinitely delay the implementation of its kratom scheduling and allow the legislature to properly adjudicate this issue.

We support action against dangerous synthetic substances, including 7-hydroxymitragynine in
concentrations above 2%—a scientifically justified threshold that acknowledges natural trace
levels formed during the drying process. But banning all forms of kratom entirely, or leaving its
legal status up to unaccountable administrative discretion, is a mistake that will have real
consequences for public health and individual liberty.

The people of Connecticut deserve policy shaped by evidence—not fear, stigma, or political
convenience. We stand ready to work with the Governor’s office, legislators, and regulators to
find the right balance between access and safety. That is how we protect lives, empower
consumers, and build a smarter future.

Matthew Lowe is Executive Director of the Global Kratom Coalition, dedicated to protecting
consumer access to natural kratom and promoting responsible, science-based regulation.