Today, there are a huge number of kratom supporters and advocates present in the US. Despite that, big corporations regularly spread misinformation even after Kratom withdrawal by DEA from Schedule-I. It is clear that these businesses want to protect their interests and hence, they do not want the general public to buy kratom.
Even after withdrawal of kratom by DEA from Schedule-I, DEA has not fully given up. However, due to a committed kratom community, the herb continues to gain more and more popularity. We can conclude this from the fact that the sales of kratom have increased considerably in the last few years. And with that, a big number of new stores that offer kratom for sale have also sprung up.
Clearly, kratom benefits the local economy of both the US and the countries where it comes from. Overall, the kratom trade seems to be a lucrative one.
What is Kratom?
Before we talk about the kratom withdrawal by DEA from Schedule-I, let us discuss what Kratom is.
Mitragyna Speciosa is a plant that belongs to the coffee family. And in common terms, we refer to it as Kratom. Kratom products come from variations of leaves that grow on the Kratom tree. For instance, kratom powder is made by crushing dried kratom leaves. Similarly, kratom capsules are made by filling the kratom powder inside natural capsule shells.
There are two main alkaloids present in Kratom leaves i.e. Mitragynine and 7-HMG. The varying composition of these two substances in Kratom gives different kratom strains their preculiar properties. And these are the two substances that DEA wanted to place under schedule-I back in 2016 subsequently withdrew its intent to do so.
Stores classify kratom products under three main and two side categories of colors. These include the Red Vein Kratom, Green Vein Kratom, White Vein Kratom, Yellow Vein Kratom, and Golden Vein Kratom. And these categories encompass all strains/varieties of kratom.
DEA and Kratom Withdrawal
After underestimating the strong kratom community in the US, the DEA tried to place a nation-wide ban on Kratom in August 2016. Their main aim was to place Mitragynine and 7-HMG under schedule-I substances.
However, kratom enthusiasts openly debunk all claims of the DEA as kratom is a natural substance and not a synthetic one. It is a botanical herb that comes from the Mitragyna Speciosa tree. Furthermore, this herb has been popular in Southeast Asia for hundreds of years, long before Pieter Willem Korthals, a botanist from the 19th century, introduced it to the modern world.
Yet, the DEA tried its level best to put certain restrictions on Kratom. As expected, as the DEA expressed its intentions to place Kratom in Schedule-I, they had to face stiff opposition from the passionate kratom community. People from all walks of life such as civil society, lawmakers, activists and many experts of the subject voiced their concerns regarding a potential ban on Kratom.
Another interesting fact is that many of those who were in key administrative positions also opposed the DEA’s intent. While at the same time, big corporations hoping for the ban on kratom to take place, obviously to reap the dividends.
Nevertheless, the strong backlash led to withdrawal of kratom by DEA from Schedule-I intent. Since then, Kratom is legal at the federal level but restricted in few states. These states include Arkansas, Wisconsin, Vermont, Indiana, and Alabama and a few counties.
In other states, kratom is largely legal but with certain restrictions. For instance, people must be over the age of 18 or 21 years in few states. Similarly, few states such as California allow the sale & purchase of Kratom except in the San Diego jurisdiction.
But even after kratom withdrawal by DEA from Schedule-I intent, it looks like the DEA does not want to give up. Big corporations are keen on the fake news against this all-natural botanical herb, which is often spread on many Reddit kratom pages and other forums.
We highly recommend new kratom buyers to always get their information from high authority sources. For legal updates regarding kratom, the American Kratom Association blog is a reliable source. Similarly, if you want authentic kratom news and informative guides, head to the Kratom blog by the ‘Green Leaf Kratom’ store.
What’s Next?
After the kratom withdrawal by DEA from Schedule-I intent, you might wonder what is next. For as long as reliable stores such as ‘Green Leaf Kratom’ continue to spread awareness about this botanical herb and every kratom supporter does his/her part, kratom shall remain largely legal.
We, at ‘Green Leaf Kratom’ believe that every kratom store should focus on high quality and good hygiene of products. We do our part in this collective struggle by providing high-end products at an affordable price, so that kratom can become more accessible for people with all budgets.
