Over 100,000 People Agree…Kratom Should Not Be Illegal

Over 100,00 people have signed a petition urging the Whitehouse to step in and stop the DEA in response to the announcement that as of Sept. 30 the herb kratom would be placed on the Schedule I drug list. Can they all be wrong about the medicinal purpose of this well known herb for its use in the fight against chronic pain and the herbs ability to help those who are chronically ill?

According to Sarah White, “Melvin Patterson of the DEA  is overwhelmed with the response from the chronically ill. They had no idea so many people found relief.” So why would the DEA even consider placing such a beneficially supplement on this list? She provided contact information, “Everyone call him. Melvin Patterson 202-307-1000. Press #4 for the media department and you will reach him.”

In a nation where approximately $425 billion is spent on pharmaceutical drugs you would think the powers that be would begin to think there is an actual drug problem…not a drug problem based around natural herbs like kratom that are available to help those with real needs, but a drug problem based off of the number of little orange pill bottles that can be found in any landfill. But that’s not the case. With the recent DEA announcement that a long used natural substance, kratom, would be placed on the Schedule I drug list, as an addition to the Controlled Substance Act, putting it on par with drugs such as LSD or heroin, it’s time to take a step back and look at the bigger picture.

Why does the DEA even care about kratom? Well let’s take a look at what a schedule I is according to the DEA. By classifying kratom as a Schedule I drug, the DEA puts it in the same group as drugs like marijuana, LSD, MDMA, psilocybin, and heroin — drugs that, by federal decree, have no medical use. Wait…what? No medical use? That’s a little strange to stick kratom in that category considering the DEA has been cooking up three synthetic opioids which were synthesized from the alkaloids in kratom: MGM-9, MGM-15, and MGM-16.

They were synthesized from kratom’s alkaloids Mitragynine and 7-Hydroxymitragynine: to make what is essentially patentable, pharmaceutical kratom. So if kratom doesn’t actually meet the guidelines of a nonmedicinal substance why would the DEA decide it should be banned?

Remember that initial number I tossed in the opening line of this article? Four hundred and twenty-five billion dollars folks is what the American public spends on pharmaceutical drugs.

Kratom isn’t a pharmaceutical drug so guess what….they aren’t getting a dime to add to that gigantic figure, but they will be once they release pharmie Kratom.

What about the statements made in the press release by the DEA in regards to the imminent danger of kratom? Aren’t those worthy of making this natural herb illegal? The announcement stated, “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 and DEA is aware of 15 kratom-related deaths between 2014 and 2016.” In a report released by the Journal of Analytical Toxicology you’ll find this statement, “Even though Kratom has its own opioid effect, it is also available with another mu-agonist added. The preparation, called Krypton, consists of powdered Kratom leaves mixed with O-desmethyltramadol, the active metabolite of the commonly used analgetic tramadol.” Those deaths occurred when Kratom was mixed with other substances. Should we delve into the over 18,000 deaths caused by Pharmaceutical Opioid Analgesics in 2013? That’s a one year span people. Why aren’t those “legal” drugs on the Schedule I list? Or what about the 29,000 alcohol induced deaths? On the same list is over 10,000 heroin overdose deaths as well. How do we stop those from happening?

Oh hey…how about we offer a natural alternative to help those addicted to heroin. Like what?  How about kratom! What are some of the health benefits? Among many others you’ll find this one amazing fact, “Essentially, kratom leaves are a substitute for opium, a highly addictive and dangerous drug, yet these leaves are seen as perfectly harmless…” People of all walks of life have found the natural benefits of kratom life changing and so have the individuals who have seen their loved ones suffer through pharmaceutical addictions.

Susan Niemi-Mick, a Colorado resident, had this to say when she found out kratom could soon be illegal, “I have a friend who uses kratom for chronic, severe pain. He finally cleaned up from a terrible pill addiction, found kratom and has been clean for 2 years. What is he going do when he can’t get it anymore?”

What will he do? Exactly what the money grubbing pharmaceutical pushers want…turn back to the little orange pill bottles they make so much money off of.

What can we do to stop this from happening?

Make your voice heard.

Contact Melvin Patterson, 202-307-1000 ext 4, and tell him, like so many others already have, that kratom is not a threat.

Thanks to Era of Wisdom here are several other ways to make your voice heard.

What You Can And Need To Do:

1.) Support the American Kratom Association in their upcoming legal battle for civil liberties and health freedom. 

http://www.americankratom.org/

From the AKA:

“After talking with some high level D.C. political folks who put out some feelers for us today, I do have a glimmer of hope that we can challenge this. It’s a glimmer but it’s there, shining through all my pain and devastation. Are you ready to RAGE with us???

Please donate so that we can hire a well connected, experienced attorney in DEA matters, a federal lobbying firm AND a public relations firm. All 3 will be needed for us to have a chance. Plus all the great grassroots work that’s already been started. We will have a more formal plan of action together shortly.

Www.americankratom.org/donate. *Or if the site happens to be down (we’ve created problems

for our host today due to the amount of traffic), PayPal to [email protected]

2.) Sign This Petition

Help bring a bright shining light to the issue by signing this petition.

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

3.) Contact the Relevant Authorities And Make Your Voice Heard:

Correspondence to the Department, including the Attorney General, may be sent to:

U.S. Department of Justice

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20530-0001

The Department may be contacted by phone at the following:

  • Department Comment Line: 202-353-1555
  • Department of Justice Main Switchboard: 202-514-2000

Peter J. Kadzik

Assistant Attorney General

Contact

Office of Legislative Affairs

(202) 514-2141

Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Liaison

(202) 514-3465

Michael J Lewis, Office of Diversion Control, Drug Enforcement Administration; Mailing Address: 8701

Morrissette Drive, Springfield, Virginia 22152; Telephone: (202) 598–6812.

also please contact the assistant secretary of HHS, Karen B. DeSalvo, MD, MPH, MSc

Acting Assistant Secretary for Health

E-mail Address:

[email protected]

Phone Number:

(202) 690-7694

Jim Esquea

Assistant Secretary for Legislation (ASL)

Phone Number:

202-690-7627

Kevin Griffis

Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs (ASPA)

Phone Number:

202-690-7850

Colleen Barros

Acting Assistant Secretary for Administration (ASA)

HHS Office of the Secretary

E-mail Address:

[email protected]

Phone Number:

202-690-7431

Be sure to contact your U.S. House Representative and U.S. Senator and encourage them to pressure the DEA to back off its attack on Kratom.

4.) If you are a writer:

…please write relevant content regarding Kratom, Kratom freedom, etc. and post this material to your website or send it to Brandon Turbeville at [email protected]. Write to local newspapers and contact your local news media. Preferred angle for local outlets is that the DEA is attempting to ban a substance that reduces drug use and is incredibly safe.

5.) Act as a liaison:

…between pro-Kratom organizations, anti drug war organizations, and pro-legalization organizations as well as groups that simply support individual choice in order to create a united front against this latest move by the DEA.

This is a serious issue folks. Remaining silent will only allow those with the power to remain in power. Use your voice. Speak up for yourself and those around you.

 


Do you know someone who has found relief from chronic illness or pain through the use of kratom? We’d love to hear your story.


 

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Audrey Sparks
Audrey Sparks
Born in Nebraska I've wandered the lands looking for fun, excitement, and good people. I've found them all here at Article Cats. A young journalist I've found my niche to be feature writing with my own personal flair. A seasoned non-fiction writer and poet, I seem to always find a story worth putting pen to paper. I look forward to sharing my viewpoints with those willing to read them and being open to the opinions of others! Cheers to many happy words!