What is the American Kratom Association? AKA's Mission & Impact
What is the American Kratom Association?
The American Kratom Association (AKA) is a nonprofit advocacy organization that protects and promotes public access to kratom in the United States. Founded in 2014, the AKA works with state legislators, congressional members, and local officials to educate them on the safety, history, and wellness benefits of Mitragyna Speciosa, the botanical we know as kratom.
Kratom laws across the U.S. are inconsistent. Some states fully allow its sale, others have banned it outright, and a growing number have adopted regulatory frameworks thanks largely to AKA's work. The AKA is the loudest and most organized voice fighting to keep kratom legal and safe for the millions of Americans who use it.
Why the AKA Matters to Every Kratom User
If you buy kratom online or in stores, the AKA's work directly affects you. Without their consistent lobbying, education, and consumer protection campaigns, kratom would likely face far stricter restrictions, or outright bans, in many more states than it does today.
Here is what the AKA actively does on behalf of consumers and responsible vendors:
- Legislative advocacy: Working with lawmakers at the state and federal level to prevent bans and promote sensible regulation.
- Public education: Sharing accurate, science-backed information about kratom's alkaloid profile, traditional use, and modern wellness applications.
- Consumer protection: Pushing back against misinformation and exposing bad actors who sell adulterated or unsafe kratom.
- Vendor standards: Operating the GMP Standards Program that holds qualified vendors to strict manufacturing, testing, and labeling requirements.
The Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA)
One of the AKA's signature achievements is the Kratom Consumer Protection Act, model legislation that has now passed in multiple states including Utah, Georgia, Arizona, Nevada, Oklahoma, and Colorado. The KCPA does not ban kratom. It regulates it.
What the KCPA Requires
- Accurate labeling of alkaloid content, including mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine percentages
- Prohibition of adulterated or synthetically spiked kratom products
- A minimum age of 21 for purchase in most KCPA states
- Manufacturing standards that prevent contamination
- Penalties for vendors who sell unsafe or mislabeled products
The KCPA is the single most important consumer-safety framework in the kratom industry, and it exists because the AKA built the coalition to push it through state legislatures.
The AKA GMP Standards Program
Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) is the benchmark standard for supplement production. The AKA runs an independent GMP qualification program that audits kratom vendors against rigorous criteria covering sourcing, testing, packaging, recordkeeping, and facility hygiene.
Vendors who pass the audit are listed as AKA GMP Qualified. This is a meaningful trust signal, not a participation trophy. Kingdom Kratom is proud to be one of the few American Kratom Association GMP Qualified vendors, manufacturing in an FDA-registered facility. When you buy from us, you are getting kratom that has been independently tested and held to the highest standard the industry currently recognizes.
Why GMP Qualification Should Matter to You
The kratom market is full of vendors selling unverified product. Some powders are cut with fillers. Some extracts are spiked with isolated 7-hydroxymitragynine at unnatural concentrations, a practice we strongly oppose because it creates addictive products that misrepresent what natural kratom actually is. AKA GMP qualification helps you identify vendors who test every batch, source responsibly, and label honestly.
How the AKA Fights Kratom Bans
In 2016, the DEA announced its intent to place kratom on the Schedule I controlled substances list. The AKA mobilized over 140,000 public comments, organized a march on the White House, and helped deliver a letter signed by 51 members of Congress urging the DEA to reconsider. The DEA withdrew its notice. That moment is widely credited with saving kratom in America, and it is a clear example of why this organization exists.
The AKA continues to fight similar battles at the FDA level and in state legislatures every year. Without them, the kratom you count on for stress, energy, focus, and comfort could be gone.
How You Can Support the AKA
The AKA is funded primarily by consumer donations and vendor memberships. Here is how you can help:
- Donate directly at americankratom.org
- Buy from AKA GMP Qualified vendors like Kingdom Kratom. Your purchase supports an industry that funds the AKA's advocacy work.
- Sign up for action alerts so you can contact your representatives when kratom legislation comes up in your state
- Share accurate information about kratom with friends, family, and on social media
Shop AKA GMP Qualified Kratom at Kingdom Kratom
Every product we sell is manufactured under AKA GMP standards in our FDA-registered facility in San Antonio, Texas. If you are looking for kratom powder, premium kratom capsules, or strain-specific options like Red Bali Kratom and Green Maeng Da Kratom, you are getting lab-tested, accurately labeled, ethically sourced product.
New to kratom and want to try several strains before committing? Our Kratom Sample Packs let you explore the full vein and strain matrix at a fraction of the cost. Every order is backed by our 30-day, 100% money-back guarantee, no questions asked.
Frequently Asked Questions About the American Kratom Association
Is the American Kratom Association a government agency?
No. The AKA is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit advocacy organization. It is not affiliated with the FDA, DEA, or any government body. It exists to represent kratom consumers and responsible vendors in policy discussions.
When was the American Kratom Association founded?
The AKA was founded in 2014 in response to growing regulatory threats against kratom in the United States.
What does AKA GMP Qualified mean?
AKA GMP Qualified means a kratom vendor has passed an independent third-party audit verifying they follow Good Manufacturing Practices for supplement production. This includes sourcing standards, batch testing, accurate labeling, and facility hygiene requirements.
Has the AKA stopped kratom bans?
Yes. The AKA's most famous victory was helping reverse the DEA's 2016 attempt to schedule kratom as a controlled substance. They have also helped overturn or prevent state-level bans in multiple legislatures and continue to fight active threats every year.
How can I find AKA GMP Qualified vendors?
The AKA publishes a current list of GMP Qualified vendors on their website at americankratom.org. Kingdom Kratom is among the qualified vendors.
Does the AKA test kratom products?
The AKA does not test products directly, but their GMP Standards Program requires qualified vendors to conduct independent lab testing on every batch for alkaloid content, heavy metals, microbial contaminants, and adulterants.
