We live in a strange reality where ailing humans are being banned from using helpful plants. Although marijuana has been liberated in many states, other beneficial plant medicines like kratom are being increasingly prohibited.
As more and more states begin to legalize marijuana, Big Pharma profits are declining. Many have speculated that cannabis was originally banned to protect corporate interests. Perhaps the same motivation is behind the surge in legislation to ban kratom.
Kratom, or Mitragyna speciosa, is a plant in the coffee family indigenous to Southeast Asia. It functions in a similar manner to opiates with similar medicinal effects. It has been shown to alleviate chronic pain and anxiety, as well as aid in overcoming addiction and depression.
A Columbia University study published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society from June of this year concludes that kratom “has been shown to exhibit antidepressant activity” and will “hold promise in the treatment of mood disorders.”
The study explains:
The plant material is typically consumed as a tea or chewed directly. At low doses, kratom is primarily used for its stimulating effects. At higher doses, opioid-like effects predominate, and the plant has been used as a general analgesic and as a substitute for opium or to treat opium withdrawal symptoms. Other medicinal applications are also known, including use as a treatment for fever, cough, diarrhea, and depression.
According to Vaults of Erowid, a hub for psychoactive knowledge, kratom is considered a subtle and short-acting sedative with few negative side effects and no reported overdose deaths.
Although kratom triggers opioid receptors, American Kratom Organization says that it is not a drug, an opiate, or a synthetic substance.
“Naturally occurring Kratom is a safe herbal supplement that’s more akin to tea and coffee than any other substances,” states American Kratom Organization’s fact page.
There are several different strains of kratom, each with varying effects. Most strains have euphoric effects, but they differ in that some offer more energy versus some that offer more relaxation. Additionally certain strains have stronger pain-relieving effects than others.
Kratom powder is ground from the leaves of the herb and usually taken in warm water as a tea. Users report that it can have mild side effects and withdrawal symptoms similar to consuming too much caffeine.
Although it is a mild substance with clear medicinal uses, lawmakers feel compelled to prohibit this natural substance while continuing to support the legality of far more dangerous substances like alcohol or countless pharmaceuticals.
Arkansas is the most recent state to ban kratom, while North Carolina and New York are the most recent states to introduce legislation to add it to their controlled substance lists.
However, at the time of this writing, it remains legal to buy kratom in 44 states.
(Image courtesy of www.soulspeciosa.com)
The six states where it is banned are Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Tennessee, Vermont and Wisconsin, but there are advocate groups in each state seeking to end prohibition of the plant.
Even some cities and counties like Palm Beach County in Florida attempted but failed to regulate kratom. The county regulation was to force to cafes who serve kratom tea to post warning signs that the herb can be addictive. Instead, the county delayed the regulation until a law enforcement study of kratom could be done.
The subsequent 2016 study by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement found:
A review of available law enforcement and laboratory sources in Florida demonstrates that Kratom does not currently constitute a significant risk to the safety and welfare of Florida residents. According to the Florida Department of Health (DOH), no pervasive health issues have been attributed to the ingestion of Kratom products in Florida. [emphasis added]
Even power-hungry government officials can’t argue with those conclusions. It seems the failed war on drugs, especially against another helpful plant, cannabis, has given lawmakers pause in adding new natural herbs to the banned substances list.
Steven Maxwell writes for Activist Post. This open source article is free to repost in full with attribution.
Is marijuana truly being legalized – i.e. to grow and use by individual citizens – or is the plant being usurped again by Big Pharma to be turned into a drug (using one or more single plant constituents) and dispensed on doctor’s prescription to a select few?
No, Big Pharma is trying to stop this one. They can’t lose market share to people who (gasp!) grow their own antidepressant painkiller. I think it’s more likely the folks who used to be Big Tobacco — they have the distribution network and the marketing know-how.
If you can afford $300-$400 an ounce. Most states put many restrictions on growing your own IF they even let you. Kratom is about $7 an ounce and takes away the pain of 26 years of fibromyalgia for me. I am allergic to EVERYTHING and have never had any bad reaction, euphoria or craving for it. Some days I don’t use it at all but when I need it it works better than a narcotic with no side effects
I’m glad you have something that helps with your condition and that you can obtain at a reasonable price.
Thanks. I wish I had known about it years ago[26 years fibro/neuropathy from Cipro & Levaquin poisoning}. Even if medical MJ was legal in my state I don’t want to be impaired or lose my short term memory. Recently found a tincture that is much easier & works faster for a little more money [concentrated]. The powder takes about 45 minutes to kick in but then my pain just melts away for 4-5 hrs! The tincture works in about 5 minutes or less. It is an alkaloid not an opiate so not addictive.
kratom is garbage and not as safe as you would think. just because its a fcking plant doesn’t mean you need to consume it. I am not advocating banning anything to be clear
We called our state senator regarding his introducing a bill to ban Kratom and were repulsed by his big pharma excuse laden rant. We need to stop sending corrupt, bought off criminals to state capitals as well as DC.
All meds , 420 bud, thc and cbd oils available .