DEA To Ban Kratom

[maz]

This sucks for people who legitimately use this stuff to manage pain, anxiety and even for recreation.

DEA Announces Intent to Schedule Kratom

SE Asian drug is imminent hazard to public safety (because it is safer and cheaper than pain management scripts)

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) today announced its intention to place the active materials in the kratom plant into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act in order to avoid an imminent hazard to public safety. Mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine are found in kratom, which is a tropical tree indigenous to Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, and other areas of Southeast Asia.  The announcement was made in the U.S. Federal Register and can be found by following this link.

Kratom is abused for its ability to produce opioid-like effects and is often marketed as a legal alternative to controlled substances. Law enforcement nationwide has seized more kratom in the first half of 2016 than any previous year and easily accounts for millions of dosages intended for the recreational market, according to DEA findings.  In addition, kratom has a high potential for abuse, has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, and has a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision. These three factors constitute a Schedule I controlled substance according to the Controlled Substances Act passed by Congress in 1970.

Kratom has been seized by law enforcement in various forms, including powder, plant, capsules, tablets, liquids, gum/resin, and drug patch. Because the identity, purity levels, and quantity of these substances are uncertain and inconsistent, they pose significant adverse health risks to users. 

From February 2014 to July 2016, over 55,000 kilograms of kratom material were encountered by law enforcement at various ports of entry within the United States. Additionally, another 57,000+ kilograms of kratom material offered for import into the United States between 2014 and 2016 are awaiting an FDA admissibility decision. Together, this material is enough to produce over 12 million doses of kratom. The FDA has also warned the public not to use any products labeled as containing kratom due to concerns about toxicity and potential health impacts. In addition, FDA has issued and updated two import alerts related to kratom products.  Kratom has been on DEA's list of drugs and chemicals of concern for several years.

The American Association of Poison Control Centers identified two exposures to kratom from 2000 and 2005.  Between 2010 and 2015, U.S. poison centers received 660 calls related to kratom exposure. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) found that kratom abuse leads to agitation, irritability, tachycardia,  nausea, drowsiness, and hypertension. Health risks found in kratom abusers include hepatotoxicity, psychosis, seizure, weight loss, insomnia, tachycardia, vomiting, poor concentration, hallucinations, and death. DEA is aware of 15 kratom-related deaths between 2014 and 2016.

Please do not make Kratom a Schedule I Substance

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov//petition/please-do-not-make-kratom-schedule-i-substance

[yankeedoodle]

Didn't know what kratom was.  Found his article:  http://www.mintpressnews.com/amid-opioid-overdose-epidemic-dea-wants-ban-popular-plant-based-treatment-addiction/220088/

Just another one of those damned leaves them dark-skinned people think they need to chew.  'Bout time to put a STOP to it.

Those damned injuns in South America keep chewin' those damned coca leaves, and we can't make 'em stop.  That's what them hel-E-copters are for.

Then, there's them damned n-----s in Africa, who chew some damned stuff called khat.

Now, them damned little jungle people down there near Krakatoa are chewin' some damned leaves called kratom.

'Bout time to put a STOP to all this damned leaf chewin'.  Leaf chewin's for animals.  People are civilized.  People pop pills.   Bad enough people are smokin' leaves, but chewin' them just ain't healthy, and it has to STOP.  We gotta protect 'em. 

But, if people GOTTA chew leaves, best that they chew those leaves that are in those little tobaccy tins, full of tobaccy leaves that are treated with lots and lots of chemicals, so that they're SAFE.  That's what CIVILIZED people do. 

[maz]

LOL that's about right

[yankeedoodle]

They're not drug addicts, Maz, they're PROFIT CENTERS.

"In 2015, private payors' average costs for a patient diagnosed with opioid abuse or dependence were more than 550 percent higher – almost $16,000 more per patient – than the per-patient average cost based on all patients' claims," the study says.   

https://www.rt.com/usa/359123-opioid-addiction-healthcare-cost/?utm_source=browser&utm_medium=aplication_chrome&utm_campaign=chrome

[maz]

The petition is over 100,000 now and one kratom distributor, probably the largest US distributor, has apparently hired a top law firm to fight the FDA. They are however expecting the worst and are preparing to sell off the remainder of their product.

[yankeedoodle]

Cannabis is cutting into their business, and they aren't going to let some new leaf called kratom do the same thing.

Opioid use decreases in US states that legalize medical marijuana - study
https://www.rt.com/usa/359655-marijuana-laws-opioid-usage/?utm_source=browser&utm_medium=aplication_chrome&utm_campaign=chrome

[maz]

Good news on the fight to keep Kratom legal. From Happy Hippo Herbals:

If you haven't heard, today is a HUGE day.

On Friday, two Congressmen, Mark Pocan (D-WI) and Matt Salmon (R-AZ) drafted a letter to the House of Representatives to STOP the ban.

If the 'Pocan/Salmon Dear Colleague Letter' gets enough signatures from Congress - the Kratom ban is very likely to be STOPPED.

We have 48 hours (deadline: Tuesday >5pm EST) to get our Congressman to sign their letter.

If you want Kratom to stay legal, this is absolutely imperative to do -

1) Find your Representative's Name •http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/ 
​
2) Call 202 224 3121 and ask to be connected to your Representative's office.​

​* You can also call your Congressman's local office which is listed here -​ http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/ 

3​) Tell to Support the Pocan/Salmon Dear Colleague Letter 1.You are a responsible adult who uses Kratom​.​
​
2.You need your Congressman to support the 'Pocan/Salmon Dear Colleague Letter'​ that calls for CONGRESS to discuss the issue instead of the DEA making a law.​

You are free to tell your entire story. They always find it interesting. Just make sure whoever you speak to on the phone ABSOLUTELY gets the message to tell your Congressman to support the Pocan/Salmon Dear Colleague Letter'.

The past 3 weeks were dedicated to getting this issue to Congress. We got that! Now we need the Kratom community to step up so we can put an end to this proposed ban.

Thank you for your support! This may be the most rewarding phone call you ever make!

[yankeedoodle]

Good news on the fight to keep Kratom legal. From Happy Hippo Herbals:

If you haven't heard, today is a HUGE day.

On Friday, two Congressmen, Mark Pocan (D-WI) and Matt Salmon (R-AZ) drafted a letter to the House of Representatives to STOP the ban.

If the 'Pocan/Salmon Dear Colleague Letter' gets enough signatures from Congress - the Kratom ban is very likely to be STOPPED.

We have 48 hours (deadline: Tuesday >5pm EST) to get our Congressman to sign their letter.

If you want Kratom to stay legal, this is absolutely imperative to do -

1) Find your Representative's Name •http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/ 
​
2) Call 202 224 3121 and ask to be connected to your Representative's office.​

​* You can also call your Congressman's local office which is listed here -​ http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/ 

3​) Tell to Support the Pocan/Salmon Dear Colleague Letter 1.You are a responsible adult who uses Kratom​.​
​
2.You need your Congressman to support the 'Pocan/Salmon Dear Colleague Letter'​ that calls for CONGRESS to discuss the issue instead of the DEA making a law.​

You are free to tell your entire story. They always find it interesting. Just make sure whoever you speak to on the phone ABSOLUTELY gets the message to tell your Congressman to support the Pocan/Salmon Dear Colleague Letter'.

The past 3 weeks were dedicated to getting this issue to Congress. We got that! Now we need the Kratom community to step up so we can put an end to this proposed ban.

Thank you for your support! This may be the most rewarding phone call you ever make!

FDA issues rare mandatory recall over salmonella risk in kratom products
https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/03/health/fda-mandatory-kratom-recall/index.html

(CNN)The Food and Drug Administration issued a rare mandatory recall Tuesday for all kratom products manufactured, processed, packed or held by Triangle Pharmanaturals LLC after several of its products tested positive for salmonella.

The FDA advises consumers to throw away any products associated with the recall, including but not limited to Raw Form Organics Maeng Da Kratom Emerald Green, Ivory White and Ruby Red.

The FDA issued the recall after the company failed to comply with the agency request for a voluntary recall.

"This action is based on the imminent health risk posed by the contamination of this product with salmonella, and the refusal of this company to voluntarily act to protect its customers and issue a recall, despite our repeated requests and actions," FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb said in a statement. It is the first time the agency has issued a mandatory recall because a company has not cooperated.

Kratom is a plant native to Malaysia. The leaves are traditionally crushed and made into tea to treat pain or reduce opioid withdrawal cravings. In the US, kratom is sold as a dietary supplement in the form of pills, powders, capsules and tea.

In February, the FDA issued a statement over concerns about compounds in kratom that acted like opioids, stating, "There is no evidence to indicate that kratom is safe or effective for any medical use." Researchers say that there is some potential in kratom to treat pain but that additional research is needed.

According to a joint investigation between the FDA and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the supplement is linked to an outbreak of at least 87 cases of salmonella across 35 states. Reports of illnesses began in October.

Symptoms of salmonella can begin 12 to 72 hours after a person is infected and include diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramping. This can last about four to seven days, and most individuals recover without treatment. However, those who develop severe diarrhea may need to be hospitalized. Those who are very young, who are very old or who have compromised immune systems are most at risk for complications and severe cases of illness.

Symptoms in the most recent reported case in this outbreak began February 24. Twenty-seven of those reporting illness have been hospitalized. Those who are ill range from 6 to 67 years old.

Federal health investigators have interviewed 55 of the patients, and 40 reported consumption of kratom pills, tea or powder before the start of their symptoms.

The CDC continues to recommend against consuming any brand or form of kratom while health officials investigate, including identifying where patients purchased kratom and testing samples of the supplement.