Bill Overview
Title: Federal Clarity for Kratom Consumers Act
Description: This bill requires the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to hold a hearing and establish a task force on the health and safety of products with kratom (an herbal substance that produces opioid- and stimulant-like effects). It also prohibits the FDA from regulating kratom products in a manner that is more restrictive as compared to regulations for food, dietary supplements, or dietary ingredients.
Sponsors: Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]
Target Audience
Population: People who use kratom products
Estimated Size: 1200000
- Kratom is a widely used herbal substance, particularly among those seeking alternative pain relief or managing withdrawal symptoms.
- Consumers of kratom products span a broad demographic, including those interested in natural remedies and those suffering from chronic pain or addiction.
- Many countries have reported significant use of kratom, especially in Southeast Asia where the kratom plant is indigenous.
- Current estimates suggest there are millions of kratom users worldwide, with a significant market in the United States.
- As this bill involves FDA regulations, it primarily impacts those in the United States using kratom for medical or recreational purposes.
Reasoning
- The policy benefits a specific segment of the U.S. population, particularly users of kratom. Thus, it is crucial to include perspectives across different age groups, occupations, and ways of kratom usage.
- Given the FDA's involvement, the policy may alleviate fears about the legality and safety of kratom products, potentially attracting more users or increasing peace of mind among current users.
- Since the American Kratom Association estimates about 1.2 million users in the U.S., with the full budget in place, the policy would need to efficiently manage its resources to have significant outreach.
- The impact might vary greatly across different users — from those heavily relying on it for pain relief to casual consumers for occasional wellness.
- Including non-users as a control group is important, as they represent a benchmark for no-change scenarios.
Simulated Interviews
Software Engineer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm hopeful that the policy will ensure kratom's legality and improve product safety.
- It's important that kratom remains available as it helps me manage pain without opioids.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 2 |
Freelancer (Austin, TX)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm relieved that kratom won't face stricter regulation similar to drugs.
- It provides a safer way for me to deal with stress and anxiety.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 2 |
Marketing Manager (New York, NY)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm cautiously optimistic. Improved regulations should ensure safer products.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Construction Worker (Chicago, IL)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this means less hassle buying kratom without worry about quality or legal issues.
- Kratom really helps with my pain when prescriptions fell short.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 1 |
Retired (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Stable regulations are reassuring; better labeling would be a huge bonus.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 2 |
College Student (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 23 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Happy that kratom won't be out of reach or hard to find due to unnecessary legal barriers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 2 |
Artist (Seattle, WA)
Age: 40 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Ensuring kratom's accessibility means I can continue using it responsibly to aid creativity.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 2 |
Entrepreneur (Miami, FL)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm interested in monitoring if safer, regulated kratom opens new business opportunities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Nurse (Denver, CO)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The potential for regulated, safer options could aid many searching for alternative treatments.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Retired Teacher (Boston, MA)
Age: 67 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy seems to protect consumers, but I'm skeptical unless I see robust scientific backing.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 3 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Year 2: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Year 3: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Year 5: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Year 10: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Year 100: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Key Considerations
- The FDA must balance consumer safety with the regulatory burden imposed on kratom products, ensuring that regulations are not more restrictive than for food or dietary supplements.
- Costs associated with setting up and maintaining a task force for kratom regulation and safety inquiry.
- Potential shifts in market perception of kratom that might affect usage and market size, thereby affecting tax revenues.