Kratom Becomes Illegal Friday, Petition to the White House Reaches Signature Goal
Kratom.
At the end of August the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced that it will be adding kratom as a Schedule 1 controlled substance, placing it alongside substances such as heroin and cannabis. The move will be made official starting Friday, September 30th.
Kratom, for those who don’t know, is a tree indigenous to Southeast Asia that has been consumed for hundreds of years in numerous countries for its supposed medical and theruptic properties. Up to this point it’s been legal throughout the United States in all but a few states. However, its use has gained popularity in recent years, and clearly the DEA sees making it illegal as another reason for their continued existence (as we mention in a recent article, kratom will continued to be sold, just through black-market means rather than through tax-paying businesses).
The DEA’s announcement on why they’re making kratom illegal can be found by clicking here.
A petition calling on the White House to stop this move has received the necessary amount of signatures required to get a response from President Obama; it needed at least 100,000 in 30 days, and has thus far received over 137,000 in 27 days. His response can be expected in the coming weeks.
[Update, September 30th, 2016: The ban on kratom has been delayed as the DEA has yet to complete the proper paperwork, though the move is still imminent.]
Vicki Crofoot
I have faith this will be overturned. The tide is turning and the Kratom Community is being heard.
Anonymous
It’s so ridiculous to ban Kratom and outrageous to put it in category of schedule 1. Just another example of “the man sticking it to us”, lol.
This powder has helped with my pain and keep me from going to narcotics, which I guess is the point of the government. The pharmaceutical companies are losing money so they go after the those who have to live in pain.
They say, ” quit relying on drugs for pain and let your body so what is suppose to, heal itself”, Really, chronic suffers, those living in pain. Kratom has actually allowed me to function and be productive.
We live in a democracy. let the people decide what is good for them.
Kratom, Leave it Alone!!
Anonymous
Thank you. Every article that presents truth about kratom can only help to call out the DEA on their nefarious intention. We can hope.
Michael McCaulley
I am very happy that this substance is becoming illegal. I tried out kratom to seek another method to deal with my pain other than taking Vicodin. I found out personally that Kratom is not as harmless as all these people claim it to be it made me extremely nervous sweaty and the most scary side effect that I had from it as I started feeling short of breath so much that I was planning on going to the local ER or calling nine-one-one. So I did my research and found out there were others like me that had the same experience this stuff is dangerous and need to be banned and I’m glad the DEA stepped in
Anonymous
What brand of kratom did you try? If you took something like krypton then that’s not pure kratom. Kratom in and of itself is safe, but yes there are certain brands that like to lace it with something like Tramadol. And that is dangerous because you shouldn’t be mixing drugs like Tramadol with kratom.
There’s also the case of substances not being suited for everyone. I took Adderall as a teen and it basically was like speed. It had a terrible effect on me. It doesn’t mean the drug in and of itself is bad as much as it was simply wasn’t one that worked well with my body. This is going to be the case with all sorts substances, be it alcohol, Tylenol, etc.
Besides, people should be allowed to ingest what they want. Even if someone wants to do something stupid like swallow laundry detergent, that’s their decision. The FEDs shouldn’t be allowed to bust into their home and arrest them for it. Unless it’s doing harm to others.
Steve
It’s unfortunate you had a bad experience with Kratom, but to justify it being as a schedule 1 when thr benefits by so many have been cited . I myself take Kratom and have experimented with many types. It is important to start on very low doses and see how your body reacts, as with any substance. There are many strains. When I drink and Red Bull energy drink, I have had a similar experience. I have had much more severe experiences with FDA approved drugs. With any given substance used as medicine, one has to take a methodical approach. If one takes to many aspirin, there are side effects. I cannot drink coffee for it gives me the shakes. It is my opinion that to do a ban across the board without the data to prove thr dangers is so not cool. Marijuana is still on across schedule 1, yet science has so proved the benefits for so many illnesses. One should ask themself whom truly benefits with the ban? Clearly, it is obvious that big pharma wins. Also, if one traced the money trail regarding the lobby to ban the plant, one would clearly see its driven by big pharma.
Annonymous
Hello! Michael McCaulley, it sounds like you may have had a mild allergic reaction. You said you were planning on going to your local ER or dialing 911, but you didn’t say that you did. So, obviously not a serious situation and hopefully you are feeling better. Also, if you did not purchase your kratom herb from a reliable company then who knows what you were consuming. Over 130,000 people are receiving healthy POSITIVE effects!!!! Thats ALOT of positive feedback!!! So please don’t “paint with a broad brush” that kratom is dangerous and should be banned for ALL people because of your herb sensitivity.
Johnathen
If you personally don’t like something then avoid it but don’t say that it is right to take away others rights and force them to be criminals because they benefit from using Kratom. Everyone should have the right to choose what they put into their own bodies regardless of whether or not it is perceived as harmful to them or not. Cigarettes and alcohol are legal a d they are more dangerous than Kratom I bekieve.
Bob the grower
I thought it took Congress to put something on the schedules list, Obama keeps saying he can’t reschedule cannabis because that’s the job of congress.
How can the DEA make this illegal?
THEY ARE NOT THE LAW MAKERS IN THIS COUNTRY, CONGRESS IS.
THIS IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND MUST BE STOPPED.
Jimmy Joe
Reached 137,000 in 27 days, but it reached 100,000 in just 8 days.
Anthony Carrera
Kratom is so harmless it is beyond belief that these people at the DEA have the power, through some quirk of the law, to add anything they want to the list. But it is fine for people to walk in a liquor store and buy a gallon of Tequila and then go run over a family of six. But how dare you smoke or drink some cannabis or Kratom in your own home by your own decision. By the way Kratom barely has any effect on you. Caffeine is 20 times stronger than Kratom. And cannabis is at least 20 times stronger as well. But it’s legal now in Colorado and other states. So give us a break DEA, please. I beg for some sanity. And what about all those in prison now for having a small amount of cannabis on them? They should be released, every last one of them. In all states, let’s stand up for what is right people! If you let these DEA types decide your fate you will be sorely disappointed. I wonder what they do for fun and relaxation? Watch an R Rated movie and stay up after 10:00pm? Wow, arrest them all… 20 years each…
Sorry for ranting but we must speak for ourselves… thank you…