KCAC Position Papers
Expert Policy Guidance from the KCAC
Comprehensive position statements addressing the most critical issues in kratom regulation, consumer safety, and market integrity. Led by Chairman Dr. C. Michael White, the KCAC produces evidence-based recommendations that inform policy and protect consumers.
Dr. C. Michael White
Dr. C. Michael White is an internationally respected clinical pharmacologist and pharmacist serving as the inaugural Chairman of the KCAC. He has published extensive reviews on kratom and directed an Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality-designated Evidence-based Practice Center for over a decade.
Registration and Enforcing Registration of Kratom Products
This paper argues for a transparent registration process for all kratom products and vendors to enhance regulatory oversight and consumer safety. It highlights the results of a third-party audit in Utah, which found that a significant majority of vendors were selling unregistered and illegitimate “7” products, underscoring the need for meaningful enforcement.
Proper Labeling of Kratom Products
This statement outlines the necessity of clear, comprehensive labeling to ensure consumers can make safe and informed decisions. It details specific requirements, including warnings about habit formation, age restrictions, and the need for quantitative declarations of alkaloid content to protect consumer health and safety.
The Status and Legality of 7-Hydroxymitragynine Products
The council unequivocally states that high-dose 7-OH products are not kratom and should be treated as experimental pharmaceuticals that require extensive clinical trials. The paper cites scientific evidence and troubling consumer reports to underscore the high addiction potential and risks associated with these synthetic products.
Kratom Use in Children
The KCAC expresses strong concern over kratom products marketed in ways that appeal to children, such as candy-like formulations. Citing the vulnerability of the developing brain to addiction and lead exposure, the council advocates for strict age verification (21+) and prohibitions on child-friendly marketing.
Fact-Check on “Synthetic 7” and the Opioid Crisis
This document refutes claims that the sale of synthetic 7-OH products has reduced opioid-related mortality. It clarifies that such claims are a classic case of “correlation does not imply causation” and that proven public health interventions, like the distribution of naloxone, are the actual drivers of improved opioid survival rates.