Kratom has been a topic of widespread discussion, as recent news surrounding kratom and the FDA’s push to have it classified as a Schedule I drug continues to create a buzz throughout social media. While there are many arguments circulating around the internet as to why kratom should or shouldn’t be classified as a Schedule I drug, many of the arguments do not properly address what kratom is or how it is used. Today, we will be taking a deeper look at kratom, the history of its use, and how it can be used to help cope with a myriad of health concerns.

If you are looking for the leading resource for buying kratom online, look no further than Etha™ Natural Botanicals. We only use the purest form of kratom, as our Etha kratom is 100 percent natural, and every product that we sell is lab-tested to guarantee the most in quality. We believe in natural remedies that can be used to alleviate pain, which is why we work continuously to make kratom more accessible and reliable for those in need. To learn more about the history of kratom and its intended uses, read more on the topic below.

What Is Kratom?

Mitragyna speciosa, also known as kratom, is derived from a Southeast Asian tree classified under the coffee family. Traditionally, kratom has been used to help with intestinal infections, diarrhea, and is even used to help combat the exhaustion that can come with manual labor. While the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has stated that there is no medical use for kratom, many individuals around the world use the natural plant to curb opioid withdrawal, find respite from chronic pain, and relieve the undue effects of both anxiety and depression.

While the tropical plant has been used for centuries under traditional medicine practices, it has just recently started to grow in popularity among Western civilization for its analgesic effects. Many have also found that certain kratom strains produce a subtle stimulant-like effect, similar to that of a cup of coffee. As you can see, kratom is used to combat a wide variety of symptoms, making this tropical plant useful for many trying to naturally alleviate pain. Unfortunately, in recent news, kratom has been labeled by the FDA as a “harmful unapproved product,” and is now under review for being classified as a Schedule I drug.

What Is A Schedule I Drug?

According to the DEA, “Schedule I drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.” When a drug is classified as a Schedule I drug, no prescriptions may be issued for these drugs. In fact, Schedule I drugs cannot even be used in clinical settings. As you can see, the classification of kratom as a Schedule I drug may make it more difficult, if not impossible, for those to obtain kratom who use the natural herb in place of highly addictive opiates or those who want to research the plant for it's many natural benefits. 

Schedule I Drugs Include Drugs Like:

• Heroin
• Marijuana
• Peyote
• Psilocybin
• MDMA
• LSD
• DMT

Skewed Data and Kratom Deaths Reported By the FDA

There have been many news articles published discussing the FDA’s recent reports of 36 deaths that have been allegedly linked directly to kratom. However, when further analyzing some of the kratom-related deaths, the evidence that kratom is responsible for the death of 36 individuals is circumstantial at best. In fact, in a recent report published by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation that compiled 15 kratom-related deaths from 2016 to 2017, it was found that, “only four individuals tested positive for mitragynine alone,” the main active alkaloid found in kratom.

This means that 11 of the 15 deceased individuals who tested positive for mitragynine also tested positive for substances like antidepressants, cocaine, amphetamines, heroin, synthetic opioids, benzodiazepines, and more. In fact, two of the individuals in the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s report tested positive for eight different substances, including mitragynine. As you can see, linking these deaths solely to kratom is disingenuous, immoral, and short sighted.

Kratom Legality

At this moment, kratom is federally legal.  This does not mean kratom is legal across all of America or the world.  In the US, a couple of states have outlawed the sell and distribution of kratom.  These states include Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington D.C., Wisconsin.  There are also some counties and cities where kratom is illegal in some form including San Diego California, Denver Colorado, and Sarasota County Florida. 

As for countries where kratom is illegal, they include Australia, Denmark, Finland, Lithuania, Malaysia, Myanmar, Poland, Romania, Swedan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

If you want to see kratom continue to be federally legal and legal in your state, please make a quick call to your local representative to voice your opinion.  The call takes just minutes.  You usually will speak to a helpful staff member who will record your comments.  It's very easy and will leave you feeling like you are making a difference.  Don't know who your representative is?  Here is a helpful site - https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative.  

The FDA’s push to classify kratom as a Schedule I drug is concerning for many reasons. For those that use kratom for its opioid withdrawal assistance and pain management benefits, there will no longer be a natural alternative readily available to the general public if kratom is made illegal. Worse yet, the scheduling of kratom could drive the plant’s business deeper into the black market, where natural ingredients may be cut with harmful substances, causing harm to those that continue to use it. This is why, at Etha™ Natural Botanicals, we believe in supplying the purest form of kratom to those in need. If you would like to learn more about our Etha™ Kratom, simply visit our online store or contact our friendly team today at support@ethalivefully.com. Thank you.

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