The Scientist Trying to Keep Kratom Legal Has Not Disclosed Longstanding Ties to Kratom Lobbyists

Jin Ke Wang reports that University of Florida professor Christopher McCurdy, who urges policymakers not to criminalize kratom, has routinely failed to disclose financial ties to the American Kratom Association (AKA). McCurdy, a leading advocate for keeping kratom legal, has accepted travel reimbursements, donations to his university's foundation and funding for a symposium on kratom research from the AKA, none of which has been disclosed in his conflict of interest statements or on his published papers.

Kratom, a Southeast Asian tree product, has caused numerous deaths and addictions worldwide, with 5,200 U.S. deaths from kratom overdoses reported between 2020 and 2024. The AKA, a lobbying group advocating for kratom's availability, has hired McCurdy multiple times to help lawmakers see kratom's safety. Despite his research findings on severe withdrawal symptoms in newborns and possible dependency, McCurdy downplays kratom's risks in his presentations.

McCurdy argues for better manufacturing standards and age restrictions on kratom use, while other AKA consultants disclose their relationships. ProPublica urges reviewers to question the separation between scientific research and industry lobbying in McCurdy's case.