In a last-minute move that has stunned Kratom advocates and consumers, Connecticut lawmakers have added a sweeping amendment to House Bill 6855 \u2014 originally intended to regulate hemp \u2014 that could effectively ban Kratom across the state. The bill, with the Kratom provision added just days before the end of the legislative session, has now passed both chambers and awaits Governor Ned Lamont\u2019s signature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If signed into law, HB6855 would classify all types of Kratom as a controlled substance<\/strong>, giving state officials the authority to place it in any schedule they deem appropriate. That means Kratom could be lumped in with Schedule I substances \u2014 like LSD or heroin \u2014 despite its long history of traditional use and low potential for harm. Even if it\u2019s placed in a lower schedule, the result is essentially the same: a ban on access for Connecticut consumers<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kratom is a natural botanical with centuries of traditional use, and today, over 24 million Americans report using it for wellness, energy, and relief. Scientific research \u2014 including a recent FDA Single Ascending Dose study \u2014 continues to show that Kratom is well-tolerated by humans. In fact, no federal agency has been able to justify a ban<\/strong>: the DEA withdrew two scheduling attempts in 2016 and 2018, and the World Health Organization chose not<\/em> to recommend international control in 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yet HB6855 seeks to treat Kratom the same as unapproved synthetic drugs like tianeptine and phenibut \u2014 a comparison that is both scientifically inaccurate and dangerously misleading. As Walker Gallman of the Global Kratom Coalition stated in recent testimony:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cKratom is a natural botanical and is far different from the synthetic drugs it’s being compared against in this bill.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Thirteen states currently regulate Kratom responsibly, ensuring product safety without restricting access. Connecticut now risks becoming the first state since 2017 to enact a Kratom ban<\/strong>, setting back consumer choice and ignoring both science and precedent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At Kraken Kratom, we\u2019re not standing on the sidelines. We\u2019ve been putting our money where our mouth is \u2014 funding advocacy, supporting legal efforts, and working hand-in-hand with organizations like the American Kratom Association<\/strong> to push back against misguided legislation like HB6855. Whether in Connecticut or other states considering similar measures, we remain committed to defending your right to access safe, well-regulated Kratom and to ensuring our voices are heard where it matters most.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhy This Matters \u2014 and Why It\u2019s Wrong<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Kraken Kratom Is Taking Action<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What You Can Do Right Now<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n