American Kratom Association Formally Opposes Michigan House Ban, Calls Procedure "Rushed" and Unscientific

Why it matters

The AKA's formal opposition to Michigan HB5537 signals that the kratom industry's primary advocacy organization is prepared to fight the ban in the Michigan Senate — where outcome could set a precedent for states currently weighing similar legislation.

The big picture

Michigan's House passed HB5537 on March 18, 2026 in a 56-48 vote, which would make growing, synthesizing, selling, importing, or distributing kratom a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and $20,000 in fines. House Speaker Matt Hall moved the bill to the floor without the full committee process typically applied to new regulatory frameworks, bypassing a previously proposed KCPA-style bipartisan bill. The AKA maintains that the primary public health risk comes from synthetic 7-OH products, not natural kratom leaf, and argues that a total ban pushes consumers toward unregulated markets.

Key findings

• The AKA says Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall bypassed committee review and limited public testimony by moving the ban to a floor vote without standard legislative process
• The original KCPA framework — which the AKA supported — would have prohibited adulterated/altered products, required alkaloid content labeling, established a minimum purchase age, and set manufacturing purity standards
• The AKA argues a total ban may redirect consumers to unregulated markets rather than eliminating use
• The bill now moves to the Michigan Senate for consideration; Gov. Gretchen Whitmer would need to sign it before it becomes law
• HHS Secretary RFK Jr. has previously recommended scheduling chemically manipulated 7-OH products while preserving access to natural kratom leaf
• The AKA cited NIDA regarding kratom's potential harm reduction role

What they say

"We believe this process overlooked essential scientific testimony," said Mac Haddow, Senior Fellow on Public Policy for the American Kratom Association. "Michigan residents were not afforded a full hearing on a regulatory approach that has been adopted in more than 20 other states."

Bottom line

The AKA's opposition to Michigan HB5537 sets up a high-stakes Senate fight: whether Michigan will join the handful of states with total kratom bans, or adopt the KCPA framework now in place in more than 20 states.