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Unlikely Kratom ban hero: Orrin Hatch (What!?)
Hi Drug Policy group 
The DEA is scheduling another plant as schedule I. They announced this at the end of the summer, and it was to go into effect tomorrow. They have postponed it (for now) due to pressure from Drug Policy, the BEA and AKA who jointly hired some high powered lobbyists in DC and have accomplished some amazing things in the last month.
First was the Pocan/Salmon Letter (D-WI and R-AZ, respectfully) to the DEA and OMB that was signed by 51 House Reps. The SideBoob Gazette has the list of signatories. 51 Signatures in 6 days. Not bad -- these things commonly take weeks, if not months.
And now today, this missive from Orrin Hatch thats circulating in the Senate. No word on co-sponsors or signers yet, it just went out this morning:
September 29, 2016
The Honorable Charles P. Rosenberg
Administrator (Acting)
Drug Enforcement Administration
Lincoln Place-West
700 Army Navy Drive
Arlington, VA 22202
Dear Acting Administrator Rosenberg:
We write today in regards to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Notice of Intent Docket No. DEA 442, the Temporary Placement of Mitragynine and 7-Hydroxymitragynine (commonly known as “Kratom”) into Schedule I. This Notice provides the Senate an opportunity to review current DEA practices and gather additional information on how evidence is selected for scheduling decisions.
The standard required for triggering the emergency scheduling authority under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA)1 requires an immediate threat to the public safety based on a public record of injuries or deaths caused by the substance being recommended for scheduling. The Congress granted emergency scheduling authority to the DEA based on the need for law enforcement interdiction of new and previously unknown illegal synthetic street drugs that result in injuries and death. The use of this emergency authority for a natural substance is unprecedented, so it is important to determine whether the circumstances here necessitate a jump to Schedule I.
The Congress has established a specific set of review protocols for scheduling decisions that will create significant disruption in the marketplace that allows for the full engagement of consumers, researchers, health professionals, law enforcement officials, and other stakeholders. Given the long reported history of Kratom use, coupled with the public’s sentiment that it is a safe alternative to prescription opioids, we believe using the regular review process would provide for a much-needed discussion among all stakeholders. We understand the DEA’s desire to uphold public health and safety, and we share the goal of seeing unsafe products removed from the market. However, hearing multiple perspectives allows for more fulsome decision-making.
Given the extremely short timeframe for the implementation of the proposed DEA scheduling order, we urge you to take appropriate steps to delay the order to allow both for a public comment period and sufficient time for the DEA to outline its evidentiary standards to the Congress regarding the justification for this proposed action.
Sincerely.
The Honorable Charles P. Rosenberg
Administrator (Acting)
Drug Enforcement Administration
Lincoln Place-West
700 Army Navy Drive
Arlington, VA 22202
Dear Acting Administrator Rosenberg:
We write today in regards to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Notice of Intent Docket No. DEA 442, the Temporary Placement of Mitragynine and 7-Hydroxymitragynine (commonly known as “Kratom”) into Schedule I. This Notice provides the Senate an opportunity to review current DEA practices and gather additional information on how evidence is selected for scheduling decisions.
The standard required for triggering the emergency scheduling authority under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA)1 requires an immediate threat to the public safety based on a public record of injuries or deaths caused by the substance being recommended for scheduling. The Congress granted emergency scheduling authority to the DEA based on the need for law enforcement interdiction of new and previously unknown illegal synthetic street drugs that result in injuries and death. The use of this emergency authority for a natural substance is unprecedented, so it is important to determine whether the circumstances here necessitate a jump to Schedule I.
The Congress has established a specific set of review protocols for scheduling decisions that will create significant disruption in the marketplace that allows for the full engagement of consumers, researchers, health professionals, law enforcement officials, and other stakeholders. Given the long reported history of Kratom use, coupled with the public’s sentiment that it is a safe alternative to prescription opioids, we believe using the regular review process would provide for a much-needed discussion among all stakeholders. We understand the DEA’s desire to uphold public health and safety, and we share the goal of seeing unsafe products removed from the market. However, hearing multiple perspectives allows for more fulsome decision-making.
Given the extremely short timeframe for the implementation of the proposed DEA scheduling order, we urge you to take appropriate steps to delay the order to allow both for a public comment period and sufficient time for the DEA to outline its evidentiary standards to the Congress regarding the justification for this proposed action.
Sincerely.
(Bolding mine)
Where was this numb nuts when it came to cannabis?
Apparently, he has a long history of being pro-harm-reduction where it doesn't conflict with his LDS beliefs. I can't see him backing the Seattle heroin treatment plan, but heard today that he has been a real thorn in the DEA's side for years over supplements. He's working on getting a D cosponsor so that it is bipartisan like the House letter.
For those who aren't familiar with Kratom, its a plant native to east Asia thats in the coffee family. The tree doesn't grow outside of the region, and people native to its climate have been chewing the leaves for centuries. Here, its sold in crushed leaf or powder form and typically drunk as a tea. It also comes in pill form and head-shop adulterated mixes. It doesn't get you high (just a little euphoric - similar to coffee but without the jitters of caffeine) but is amazing for nerve pain. It also is used with tremendous success to alleviate opiate withdrawal. The medical possibilities for this plant are amazing because it doesn't cause respiratory distress like heroin, oxy and others in that class do, causing ODs.
Be interesting to watch this play out -- and with 6 states voting on legalizing cannabis in November -- to see if these can dovetail on one another to bring a SANE response to the addiction/OD epidemic this country is facing.
Stop criminalizing people for plants and treat addiction as a health issue, not a felony. /rant
6 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
In reference to media reports about the impending ban:
“Many news reports have said the DEA is imposing ‘strict regulations.’ But prohibition is the opposite of strict regulation, since it completely abdicates regulation to the illicit market.”
...and keeps them in business. They ain't in the 'regulation' business, and the budget needs to be justified somehow, right?
Good to see ya WD!
Response to Ruby the Liberal (Original post)