Kratom is a well-known herb frequently consumed worldwide, but its legal status is in a gray area. The attempts of the FDA and DEA to criminalize this herb have badly affected its global reputation.
Moreover, the negative media coverage and fake rumors have also played a role in making this botanical controversial. Kratom advocates do not appreciate these activities, so they often look for ways to keep this plant material legal. The same is the purpose of this article.
What is AKA?
It is a short form of the American Kratom Association – an official Speciosa advocate that has been operating since 2014 in the United States for the betterment of the Mitragyna industry. It is a non-profit organization established to keep Speciosa legal for every supporter. In case you don’t know what a non-profit entity is, this setup is built not to generate profits; instead, it works for public welfare and is run by donations or similar funds.
The AKA is a consumer group and not a kratom vendors association. They do offer a program for kratom vendors, but the focus is on safe kratom for consumers.
AKA Leadership
- Matt Salmon: CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
Matt Salmon, a former five-term Representative from the 5th District of Arizona, has just been appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of the American Kratom Association. Salmon is a Mesa, Arizona native and has an undergraduate degree from Arizona State University and a Master of Public Administration from Brigham Young University. He is currently a Vice President of Government Affairs at Arizona State University, a role he has held since 2017.
Matt Salmon spent over a decade in the telecoms industry in Arizona before becoming a member of the Arizona State Senate. He eventually became the assistant majority leader and chair of the Rules Committee, before being elected to the U.S. Congress in 1994.
He served three terms before deciding to step down in 2000, then worked as a consultant for Arizona State University in matters regarding educational policy. He returned to Congress in 2012 and was re-elected in 2014. Salmon was a part of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and is proficient in Mandarin.
Congressman Salmon has held prominent positions in Congress, such as chair of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere and the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, and has taken several trips to China. In 2016, he spearheaded a movement to oppose the FDA’s decision to classify kratom as a controlled substance to the DEA.
Salmon worked hard to get a group of Republicans and Democrats in Congress to fight against the prohibition of kratom. His dedication to ensuring consumers have the right to choose what they use to maintain their health was a major factor in the DEA’s decision to revoke the ban. He and Nancy have been married for four decades and have four children and nine grandchildren.
- Chris Bake: He is serving the AKA as a board member who has taken many efficient steps to take this organization to the next level.
He has been involved in various campaigns to raise awareness of the potential benefits of kratom, and has been a key figure in the efforts to ensure that kratom remains available as a natural dietary supplement for consumers. He is also an advocate for the rights of veterans, and has worked to ensure that veterans have access to the alternative treatments they need. His commitment to making sure that the public is informed and educated about kratom has been a major factor in its continued acceptance in the United States.
- Jamie Ziegler: A board member at AKA and is doing very well in the exponential growth of the whole setup.
Jami Ziegler has been a critical part of the kratom movement, working to make sure that the public is aware of the potential benefits of kratom. Helped to ensure that kratom remains available to consumers through her advocacy for natural dietary supplements.
Has also been an advocate for the rights of veterans, working to make sure that they have access to alternative treatments. Jamie’s commitment to educating and informing the public about kratom has been a driving force behind its acceptance in the United States. Major Goals of the American Kratom Association.
The American Kratom Association (AKA) recognizes that every effort should be made to keep kratom risks low, and protect consumers from adulterated and contaminated kratom products. With appropriate FDA consumer regulation, we can maximize the potential for kratom to be responsibly used for the improvement of health and well-being of individuals and public health in America. To that end, AKA supports the following efforts:
1. Educating People
The AKA has played a key role for many years in educating the public, government bodies, and politicians. In addition, it also works with high authorities to ensure impactful people and organizations understand the real potential of this plant material.
2. Spreading Global Awareness
The American Kratom Association believes in spreading awareness worldwide to convince federal authorities to build standard legislation for buyers and sellers.
3. Protecting Natural Resources
Protecting Speciosa as a natural source is another leading goal of the AKA. Moreover, it also goes the extra mile to ensure sustainable growth and best harvesting practices.
4. Supporting Customers
One more potential aim of the American Kratom Association is to protect customers from buying contaminated and outdated stuff. The AKA believes that every consumer gets highly potent, safe, and consistent strains to benefit from.
How Can I Support AKA to Keep Kratom Legal?
There are different ways to support the American Kratom Association. Let’s go through them one by one.
Join KCC
KCC is a short form for the Kratom Consumer Council. You can join this council to fight for Kratom and to promote its scientific study. This council often looks for volunteers, so you can join it whenever you want.
Act as a Kratom Protector
To support the cause of the AKA, you can join hands with this organization to spread awareness in your region.
Subscribe to the Newsletter
This non-profit entity sends you newsletters every week to keep you posted. The newsletters cover different subjects, including but not limited to updates on the Mitragyna ban, legal concerns, current events, and support petitions.
Share Your Contribution
You can also support the AKA by sharing your financial contribution. This body accepts donations worldwide and ensures every penny is being spent on public welfare. The donors can keep a check on where the money is being spent.
Sign a Petition
You can sign AKA petitions to make the future of this botanical secure and bright. It has launched a secondary website (www.protectkratom.org) for petitions.
How Does the AKA Protect Kratom?
The two biggest AKA contributions include:
1. AKA-GMP certification
The acronym GMP stands for Good Manufacturing Practices. It is a set of rules designed to strictly bind sellers to follow high standards for manufacturing Kratom goods. These rules ensure that you get safe and 100% organic strains every time you purchase.
The AKA has introduced its GMP program to ensure every seller offers high-quality Kratom goods. The vendors with this certification can display the program approval on their websites to gain customers’ trust.
2. KCPA
The full form of KCPA is the Kratom Consumer Protection Act. It is another set of rules introduced to protect buyers from becoming victims of scammers. This act asks vendors to sell organic Kratom stock and makes buyers aware of how to evaluate the right product. Though different states have different KCPA versions, each has some common points.
According to KCPA, sellers must put appropriate labels on the packaging to let buyers know what ingredients are present in the product and the concentration of every ingredient. Moreover, it says consumers should not purchase Kratom products with more than a 2% concentration of 7-hydroxy-mitragynine. At the same time, people under 18 can’t buy Speciosa strains according to the Kratom Consumer Protection Act.
Will AKA Be Able to Protect Kratom in the Future?
The AKA has been doing tremendously well to keep Mitragyna legal in the long run. However, predicting the future would be too early.
But the future of this magical herb seems pretty bright and safe. It depends on how many people connect to the AKA to support its cause. If you want to keep Kratom going, join hands with AKA, and spread awareness anywhere you can.
How Can a Seller Get an AKA Approval?
Well, the process is super simple. A vendor has to apply for the relevant certification. Once done, the AKA’s team schedules a visit to the facility to determine if the vendor follows high manufacturing standards and offers products in sealed or airtight packaging.
The registration fee for AKA vendor certification is $5,000. The certified sellers have to renew the certificate yearly, and the renewal fee is $1,000. An American Kratom Association Audit is scheduled.
List of AKA-Approved Brands
The platinum vendors listed on the official website of the AKA are:
- OPMS Kratom (Optimized Plant Mediated Solutions)
- Chief Kratom
- Golden Monk
- King Kratom
- Whole Herbs
- Remarkable Herbs
- Kratom Kaps
- Choice Botanicals
Takeaway
Are you concerned about how the American Kratom Association plays its part in protecting Speciosa from banning? Looking for ways to support the AKA’s cause?
The above discussion has got you covered. One effective way to keep AKA is to share your financial contribution. Support companies such as Christopher’s Organic Botanicals who supports kratom research.
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