Urgent: AB1088 Has Been Rewritten — and We Need Your Voice Before Next Wednesday

Friends and community members — we need your help, and we need it NOW. 
California’s AB1088 — the state bill that regulates kratom — has recently undergone significant rewriting by the state senate, and we feel that some of the new provisions have gone too far. The Senate Health Committee will be meeting this coming Wednesday for another round of discussions on the bill, which means the window to make your voice heard is right now.

First: Why This Bill Actually Matters
Let’s be clear — we’re not asking you to oppose AB1088. Sensible kratom regulation is something we genuinely support and AB1088 is generally pointed in the right direction. In particular, we strongly support the regulation of 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) — a concentrated, highly potent derivative that has been raising legitimate public health concerns and that behaves very differently in the body than natural kratom leaf and its extracts.
The problem is that in their attempt to regulate 7-OH, the Senate is tightening restrictions around natural kratom in a way that is a disservice to our kratom community – and to our little apothecary!

What’s Overreaching in the New Rewrites
1. The Mitragynine Package Limit Doesn’t Account for Natural Powder
     The new wording caps mitragynine (the primary active compound in kratom) at 75mg per package. That makes complete sense for single-serving shots and beverages sold in gas stations. But for natural, unprocessed kratom powder (with mitragynine levels of the average 1-2%) this limit would restrict bags to just 3.75 to 7.5 grams. That’s one to three doses – our bags range from a very small 28g to 1000g.
Whole-plant kratom powder is fundamentally different from a concentrated extract. It deserves its own standard. We’re asking the Committee to establish a separate, higher limit for natural, minimally processed leaf — whether that’s half a pound, a pound, or a kilogram. Protect people from concentrated products; don’t over-restrict access to the plant itself.
2. The Under-21 Entry Ban Is the Wrong Rule for Wellness Shops
     We completely agree that kratom should be restricted to adults 21 and older. But the current rewrite goes further — it would ban anyone under 21 from entering any establishment that sells kratom. Maybe that makes sense for a smoke shop. But for Twisted Thistle?
We’ve been in the Bay Area for over 15 years. We carry herbal teas, crystals, books, body care products, and a whole range of health-oriented items. Young people are a cherished part of our community — students, curious minds, people exploring natural wellness for the first time. Barring them from our doors entirely would be devastating for our business and, honestly, a disservice to our neighborhood.
The right model already exists: it’s the same one used for alcohol and tobacco. Under-21 customers can enter; they just can’t purchase age-restricted products. That’s it. It’s proven, it’s sensible, and it respects the diversity of businesses that sell these products responsibly.

What You Can Do — Right Now
The Senate Health Committee is meeting this Wednesday (June 17th), and position letters submitted before then will be read and considered. Here’s how to make your voice heard:
Submit a position letter through the California Legislature’s official portal:
https://calegislation.lc.ca.gov/Advocates/ (see the P.S. below for guidance on how to sign up for portal access)
You don’t need to write anything long or formal…

Even a few sentences saying that you support kratom regulation but want the Committee to:
1. Create a separate higher package limit for natural kratom powder
2. Allow under-21 access to multi-product wellness establishments (with purchase restrictions only)
…will make a real difference.

Why It Matters That YOU Speak Up
Legislators hear primarily from lobbyists and industry groups. When real people — customers, community members, responsible consumers — take a few minutes to submit a position letter, it stands out. You don’t have to be an expert. You just have to show up.
Kratom has been a meaningful part of many of our customers’ wellness journeys. Let’s make sure the laws that govern it are thoughtful, well-targeted, and fair.
The deadline is essentially now. Thank you for being part of this community — and for helping protect it.

With gratitude,
Your friends at TTA Power Plants

P.S. How to use the CA State Comment Portal:

• Go to: https://calegislation.lc.ca.gov/Advocates/
• Click the “Create an account” link in the Sign In box (or “Registration” in the How Do I Get Started area)
• Select No and No
• Follow the steps (you address isn’t required but may add more legitimacy)
• Once you register, the system will generate a password and email it to you. Upon your first sign in you will need to set a new password. (Check your Junk/Spam folder if you don’t see it)
• Enter “1088” in the Measure section
• Click “Search”
• Select the Senate Committee: Health
• Click “Support” and enter your perspective. (The “Submit a letter instead” option allows you to upload a document from Word or similar – which allows for more formatting – up to you!)
• Note: consider writing a draft and feeding it through AI and ask it to revise for readability. Hopefully the Committee will get many submissions so brevity and readability will be of value.