The controversy about herbal medicine with opioid-like effects known as Kratom has been going on for several years. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has habitually expressed concerns about this medicinal herb’s use.
With the rapidly increasing popularity of Kratom, many states may reconsider legalizing this herb.
If you are a user of this natural medicine and you want to know whether Kratom is legal in your place or not, then please keep on reading.
What Is Kratom?
Glorified as a natural medicine that can serve as an alternative to prescription ones, Kratom is a tropical evergreen plant with its roots in the Southeast Asian part of the world.
It is a psychoactive plant substance that has been used since traditional times to treat withdrawal symptoms of opioids and other illnesses such as cough and fatigue.
Aside from this, users of this medicinal plant have utilized Kratom to alleviate any muscle or joint pain and increase their concentration and alertness.
In a traditional setting, raw kratom leaves are chewed by users, while some dry the harvested leaves and brew them into tea.
As a result of the immense ongoing popularity of Kratom as a natural alternative even to prescription medicines, the medicinal herb is now marketed in several forms.
Various forms of Kratom have now been put into the marketplace, including kratom capsules, liquid extract, tablets, Kratom in powdered form, and even resin.
The way kratom works are pretty interesting. An interaction between its two primary chemical components, namely mitragynine and 7-a-hydroxy mitragynine, and the opioid receptors in the brain occurs.
This, in turn, triggers the stimulant or opioid-like effect of Kratom when taken at a lower dosage.
The stimulant effects of Kratom include a boost in energy, increased awareness, and better focus.
On the other hand, when Kratom is taken at a higher dosage, it yields sedation or sedative-like effects such as alleviating anxiety, relief from pain, and even sedation itself.
Typically, Kratom’s effects begin operating around 5 to 15 minutes after intake, lasting for about two hours and above. Despite the sound effects, backed up by many kratom users, some states still consider Kratom illegal.
Is Kratom Legal?
It’s important to know that Kratom is entirely unregulated in the United States. The Food and Drug Administration has still not approved any kratom usage and is still actively evaluating every scientific study and report regarding the medicinal plant.
Thus, the government body does not guarantee the safety and grade of the products based on Kratom in the United States.
So, the DEA even regarded the natural herb as a controlled or monitored drug. Technically speaking, Kratom is considered legal at the federal level.
However, some states and municipalities in the United States have preferred to ban the natural plant herb, making it illegal to buy, sell, possess, or even use.
Among the states in the US, the conditions of Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin are among the list states where buying, selling, having, or even using Kratom is considered illegal. The rest of the conditions think Kratom to be legal but should be handled appropriately or regulated.
If you live outside the United States, numerous countries have laws and regulations concerning illegal Kratom.
Ironically, even though Kratom is native to the Southeast Asian part of the world, most Asian countries consider buying, selling, having, and using Kratom to be against the law or unlawful, such as Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Although Thailand has recently reviewed and revisited its laws and regulations associated with Kratom, it remains illegal until further notice.
Why is Kratom Not Considered Legal Anywhere?
As stated above, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is still in the process of conducting reports and scientific studies regarding Kratom; thus, it still lacks pieces of evidence to support the therapeutic benefits claimed by the users.
Apart from this, some reports claim to have experienced the adverse side effects of Kratom, which include loss in weight, feelings of nausea and drowsiness, and itching of the skin.
Due to these limited reports, many states, municipalities, and even countries have decided to ban and not legalize Kratom.
In addition, the government may feel worrisome about the possible expansion of the residents to Kratom when consumed daily for a long time.
Should Kratom be Considered Legal?
As many kratom users use Kratom for both medicinal and recreational purposes, it is significant that the government legally approves the usage, selling, buying, and using of the natural herb.
Instead of altogether banning or deeming Kratom’s buying, using, and selling illegal, authorities and officials should impose safety measures and precautions for using Kratom.
One compromise they might consider is to have a medical prescription before being able to buy kratom products. Through this, the government and the users may agree peacefully without being subjected to any illegal things or actions.
Meanwhile, the FDA and the DEA should consider conducting more studies and research about Kratom to speed up the possible legalization of Kratom.
What Does the Future Hold for Kratom?
It is still legal in the US, although the FDA has issued several consumer cautions about Kratom.
The DEA threatened in 2016 to add Kratom to the list of Schedule 1 narcotics, which includes heroin and other medicines with no legitimate medical applications and significant potential for misuse.
An outpouring of support from patients, physicians, congressional representatives, and members of the general public, who claimed that Kratom assisted with opiate withdrawal and chronic pain management, halted the DEA’s effort to outlaw it.
Kratom has been linked to several fatalities. However, many of those deaths were also related to other substances, such as alcohol and narcotics.
Without a federal prohibition, states will be free to regulate or not regulate as they see appropriate in their jurisdictions.
There is a need for more excellent investigation since there are supporters on both sides.
Conclusion
In our current world, Kratom remains illegal due to some reports of Kratom producing adverse effects. However, the lack of knowledge, research, and even ignorance might have been the reason that those adverse effects took place.
Thoroughly studying and researching Kratom may significantly help a person overpower these harmful impacts. It is crucial to prevent people from using kratom products with increased fame, especially its effects.
