⚖️ Ohio Board of Pharmacy Made the Right Call – Unanimously
After conducting a formal 8‑factor analysis under the Controlled Substances Act framework, the Ohio Board of Pharmacy concluded that kratom alkaloids meet the criteria for Schedule I classification.
✅ That decision was
not political. It was based on:
- High abuse potential
- Lack of accepted medical use
- Clear safety concerns
And it applies to
all kratom‑containing products – not just a subset.
The Board of Pharmacy is Ohio’s expert regulatory authority on controlled substances. Their determination should be the final word.
❗ SB 299 and HB 587: A Dangerous Workaround
SB 299 and HB 587 attempt to override the Board’s expert determination by creating a retail framework for kratom. These bills:
- ❌ Treat kratom like a regulated consumer product (similar to KCPA models)
- ❌ Assume safety can be managed through labeling and testing
- ❌ Preserve commercial access in gas stations, vape shops, and online markets
🚨
The fatal flaw: There is
no practical way to enforce the distinctions these bills rely on.
- No field test to distinguish raw leaf from concentrated extracts
- No real‑time verification at point of sale
- No reliable way to differentiate product types in commerce
A regulatory model built on distinctions that cannot be measured or enforced is
not a safety framework – it is a loophole.
🔴 Why This Fight Matters
The Ohio Board of Pharmacy has already determined that kratom meets the threshold for Schedule I.
SB 299 and HB 587 would:
- Undercut that expert determination
- Create conflicting state policy
- Allow continued retail distribution of products already identified as unsafe
🧠 Bottom line: Ohio does not need a workaround. It needs alignment with its own regulatory authority. If the Board of Pharmacy – after full review – has concluded that kratom meets Schedule I criteria, the legislature should not create a parallel system that assumes the opposite.
📧 Email Template (Copy & Paste)
Subject: Oppose SB 299 & HB 587 – Respect the Board of Pharmacy’s Schedule I determination
"Dear Senator/Representative [NAME],
I am a constituent in [CITY/DISTRICT]. I urge you to oppose SB 299 and HB 587.
The Ohio Board of Pharmacy has already conducted a full 8‑factor analysis and determined unanimously that kratom alkaloids meet the criteria for Schedule I. That decision was based on abuse potential, lack of medical use, and clear safety concerns.
SB 299 and HB 587 would override that expert determination and create an unenforceable retail framework. There is no field test to distinguish raw leaf from concentrated extracts, and no practical way to enforce the bill’s distinctions at the point of sale.
Please respect the Board’s expertise. Oppose SB 299 and HB 587. Let the Board’s Schedule I determination stand.
Thank you."
📞 Phone Script (30 Seconds)
Script:
"Hello, my name is [NAME] from [CITY]. I'm calling to urge [Senator/Representative NAME] to oppose SB 299 and HB 587. The Ohio Board of Pharmacy already determined that kratom belongs in Schedule I. These bills would override that expert decision and keep kratom on gas station shelves with no way to enforce safety. Please vote NO. Thank you."
📝 Written Testimony
Email your legislator using the addresses below. Keep it short and focused. Structure:
- Your name, city, district (if known).
- State your opposition to SB 299 and HB 587.
- Cite the Board of Pharmacy’s unanimous Schedule I determination.
- Explain that these bills create an unenforceable system: no field tests, no real‑time verification, no way to distinguish product types.
- End with a clear ask: "Vote NO on SB 299 and HB 587."
Attach evidence from our Evidence page (lead reports, ethanol findings, CDC death data).
📬 Contact Ohio House Members
Email every representative. Same message: Oppose HB 587. No workaround for kratom.
⚡ Ohio Has Already Made Its Determination – Follow It
The Board of Pharmacy did the hard, technical work. Now lawmakers must respect that decision.
Oppose SB 299 and HB 587. Keep kratom out of gas stations.