How is kratom regulated?

Oftentimes there is no guarantee of the quality, potency, and claims of kratom products on the market. For the most part, kratom products are not monitored by regulatory bodies, partly because kratom is not considered a supplement, a food, or a drug in the regulatory definitions of many countries. Thailand initially banned the use of kratom because of its addictive properties. Recently, kratom was removed from Thailand’s illegal substances list but still remains highly regulated.^[1] Although it is still illegal to use kratom in Malaysia, its use remains high because the plant is geographically native.^[2] The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in the U.S. intended to classify kratom and its ingredients mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine as schedule 1 controlled substances but withdrew this motion after opposition. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued numerous public warnings about kratom’s effects and also about the risk of contamination and adulteration of kratom products. These factors make for unfavorable conditions under which to conduct clinical research and to consistently regulate the quality of kratom products.^[3][4] Potential quality concerns related to kratom products include contamination with toxins such as lead, adulteration with drugs, and inaccurate statements about product potency and effects.^[5][6][7] It is important to be aware of these quality concerns when trying a kratom product.