PRINTER'S NO. 2395
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
460
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY STRUZZI, SAPPEY, CONKLIN, READSHAW, RYAN,
SCHLOSSBERG AND SCHMITT, SEPTEMBER 3, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, SEPTEMBER 3, 2019
A RESOLUTION
Urging the United States Food and Drug Administration to
recognize this Commonwealth's concern with the safety of
kratom and the current distribution and sale of kratom as a
drug replacement, supplement or food and to promptly consider
guidelines and protocols for the safe use of kratom.
WHEREAS, The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
has issued warnings to consumers to not use Mitragyna speciosa,
commonly known as kratom, a plant which grows naturally in
Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, because the
plant affects the same opioid brain receptors as morphine and
appears to have properties that expose users to the risks of
addiction, abuse and dependence; and
WHEREAS, Kratom is consumed by chewing the leaves, drying and
smoking the leaves, putting the leaves into capsules or tablets
or boiling the leaves into a tea; and
WHEREAS, The effects from kratom are unique in that
stimulation occurs at low doses and opioid-like depressant and
euphoric effects occur at higher doses; and
WHEREAS, The FDA has issued reports about deaths associated
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with kratom with little or no research performed on the safety
of kratom; and
WHEREAS, The FDA rescinded the FDA's intention to designate
kratom as a Schedule 1 drug after public outcry from supporters
of kratom; and
WHEREAS, Supporters of kratom assert that illicit substances
combined with kratom caused the deaths associated with kratom
and that those deaths wrongly served as the basis for the FDA's
proposed criminalization of kratom; and
WHEREAS, The FDA is actively evaluating all available
scientific information to better understand kratom's safety
profile, including the use of kratom combined with other drugs;
and
WHEREAS, While the FDA evaluates the available safety
information about the effects of kratom, the FDA encourages
health care professionals and consumers to report any adverse
reactions to kratom to the FDA's MedWatch program; therefore be
it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the United States Food and
Drug Administration to recognize this Commonwealth's concern
with the safety of kratom and the current distribution and sale
of kratom as a drug replacement, supplement or food; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the United States Food and
Drug Administration to promptly consider guidelines and
protocols for the safe use of kratom; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
the headquarters of the United States Food and Drug
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Administration at 10903 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring,
Maryland 20993.
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