KANSAS KRATOM BAN: TELL GOVERNOR KELLY TO VETO SB 430 — NATURAL KRATOM NOW UNDER ATTACK

In a shocking move, the Kansas Senate introduced a new trailer bill — SB 430 — under the guise of a "clerical fix," then used it to add mitragynine to the scheduling list. This is not a minor edit. It is a fundamental policy shift that targets natural kratom. Governor Kelly has the power to veto. Here's what happened and exactly what you need to do right now.

Take Action Now

Call, email, and submit the contact form today. In-person visits to the Governor's office carry significant weight.

• 📞 Call: (785) 368-8500

• 📧 Email: correspondence@ks.gov

• 🌐 Contact form: governor.ks.gov/serving-kansans/constituent-services/share-your-opinion

• 📍 Visit in person: Governor Laura Kelly, Kansas Statehouse, 300 SW 10th Ave., Ste. 241S, Topeka, KS 66612-1590

• 🔗 Full action toolkit: protectkratom.org/kansas

Suggested Subject Line

VETO SB 430 - Don't Turn Kansans Into Criminals Over Unsettled Science

What to Say

Write in your own words and share your personal story. Use these points as a guide:

• You are a Kansas resident urging Governor Kelly to veto SB 430

• This bill was substantially changed under the guise of a "clerical fix." Adding mitragynine to a scheduling bill is not a minor edit — it is a fundamental policy shift

• When signing the previous version of this bill, Governor Kelly noted that the FDA is still reviewing kratom and the science is unsettled. If the science is truly unsettled, the right approach is to let that science unfold before turning responsible Kansans into criminals

• There are currently over 18 human clinical trials on kratom, including a single ascending dose trial conducted by the FDA itself. FDA Commissioner Makary recently stated clearly: "Our focus is not on natural kratom which has been consumed for centuries." Their focus is exclusively on concentrated 7-OH

• Share your personal story — how natural kratom has positively impacted your life. This is what decision makers remember

• Close with: "Thank you for your time. Please veto SB 430 and let the science settle before criminalizing Kansans."

What Happened — and Why SB 430 Is Different

To understand why SB 430 is alarming, it helps to know what came before it.

Governor Kelly recently signed HB 2365, which targeted 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), a dangerous synthetic concentrate that bad actors have artificially enhanced and sold under the guise of natural kratom. We do not support synthetic 7-OH products and fully support efforts to remove them from shelves. The FDA has drawn a clear line between natural kratom and synthetic 7-OH, and HB 2365 reflected that distinction. That was appropriate.

SB 430 is a different story entirely.

Introduced as a routine "clerical fix" to HB 2365, the bill quietly added mitragynine — the primary alkaloid found in natural kratom leaf — to the scheduling list. This is not a technical correction. It is a policy expansion that goes far beyond what the FDA has recommended and targets the natural plant that responsible adults have used safely for decades.

The AHPA has specifically warned against conflating mitragynine in natural kratom with synthetic 7-OH products. As research discussed on the Huberman Lab podcast and confirmed by an FDA study makes clear, natural kratom leaf and synthetic concentrates are fundamentally different products. SB 430 ignores that distinction entirely.

Governor Kelly herself noted when signing HB 2365 that the science on kratom is unsettled. That acknowledgment makes SB 430 even harder to justify. If the science is unsettled, criminalizing responsible Kansans before that science is resolved is the wrong call.

Why a Veto Is the Right Call

The FDA has been clear. Commissioner Makary stated: "Our focus is not on natural kratom which has been consumed for centuries." The agency's focus is exclusively on concentrated synthetic 7-OH — not the natural plant. SB 430 goes beyond that guidance and criminalizes a product that federal authorities have specifically distinguished from the dangerous synthetics they are targeting.

There are currently over 18 human clinical trials on kratom, including a single ascending dose trial conducted by the FDA itself. That research deserves the opportunity to inform policy before Kansas turns responsible consumers into criminals.

The Kratom Consumer Protection Act, adopted in 18 states, is the proven framework for addressing public health concerns without prohibition. It targets dangerous products through safety standards, age restrictions, and clear labeling — without criminalizing the natural plant.

The Bigger Picture

States that have chosen regulation over prohibition have consistently produced better outcomes for consumers and public health alike. Kansas took a step in the right direction with HB 2365 by targeting synthetic 7-OH. SB 430 undoes that nuance and goes far beyond what science and federal guidance support.

Governor Kelly has the power to veto. Call (785) 368-8500. Email correspondence@ks.gov. Submit the contact form at governor.ks.gov. Visit protectkratom.org/kansas for the full action toolkit. For the latest on kratom legality in Kansas and other states, visit our kratom legality map.