The successes in Florida, Georgia, and the movement toward success made in New Hampshire yesterday should give all fans of Kratom and freedom a reason to hope that a larger success is possible.
Pooling our talents, resources, and volunteers with the Botanical Legal Defense (BLD) is paying off.
We face a lot of states that have submitted bills for consideration. One, Arkansas, has even done a legal end-run and avoided the usual process and made a ban, based on the word of one MD with a conflict of interest -- he owns a drug rehab treatment center.
We may see more of that, as states try to adopt laws that will allow blanket bans on substances not yet created, trying to keep up w/ the push to create new synthetics and stay one step ahead of the laws.
My thought is that lawmakers need to step back and see that previous bans have not worked. Banning what we know now is a harmless herb, marijuana, was a colossal failure -- and that ban has only driven young people to find cheaper synthetic chemicals (of which there is an infinite supply, folks!).
Earth to Lawmakers: "You are like a dog chasing its tail! You'll never catch it! Read the history of Prohibitions before you propose another one, please!"
Unfortunately, lawmakers and others find profits in banning substances -- in spite of the social harm their bans create. Bigger budgets for law enforcement, confiscating people's homes, property without process of law. This is not moral and should not be tolerated.
My point is, we have a lot of work to do, but we're in the right and we're succeeding. This small momentum will grow as we keep at it. Florida was a textbook case of a few passionate, skilled people making a big difference against seemingly impossible odds. And wisdom won out. We need to keep speaking truth to power until they hear it. Thanks to all who sent emails, made calls, and most of all, showed up to testify!