Please do not make Kratom a Schedule I Substance

[G_j]

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


WE THE PEOPLE ASK THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO TELL US WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS DOING ABOUT AN ISSUE:

Please do not make Kratom a Schedule I Substance

Created by P.M. on August 30, 2016

30,478 SIGNED 100,000 GOAL

Schedule I drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.

This is not true for Kratom, it has been shown numerous times in reports from users to help recovering Opiate addicts, treat pain, combat depression and anxiety, and much more. Deaths that involve Kratom being a persons' system have always been from the result of mixing Kratom with other drugs, rather than Kratom alone. In states that banned Kratom, Alabama specifically, opiate usage and deaths went up after Kratom was banned in the state. Please stop the DEA from scheduling Kratom as Schedule I, there are many people who will suffer from this.

Sign Petition

Sources:

http://jaoa.org/article.aspx?articleid=2094342

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3670991/

[NaturalHigh]

1. K and R.

I've used kratom for chronic pain.

[jack_krass]

2. Same here... I'm really surprised by this action as lots of

People use Kratom.... It's a natural painkiller, mild opiate with a unique self-regulating mechanism, and used by some as an antidepressant,

Fuck the DEA for doing this. I hope they end up having to reverse this stupidity.

[G_j]

3. simply insane

I don't get it. How can one not question the motives behind this?

[Control-Z]

4. I've never heard of Kratom.

What is it? Is it prescribed under a different name?

[Revanchist]

5. It's a natural herb

No prescription required, which is probably part of the reason the DEA is trying to ban it, no big pharma company to pay off the feds.

[welivetotreadonkings]

6. Such devastating news...

Please sign, please spread the word. Not sure if this is reversible because the DEA is evidently immune from checks and balances, but may as well try. Kratom has been a lifesaver for many, many people.

[jack_krass]

7. KICK. Please everybody sign this petition. This herb had helped so many people

[G_j]

8. k

[anarch]

9. I signed the petition

and thought I'd kick this too, even though I doubt it will really accomplish anything...although not really well-known or all that widely used in the U.S., relatively speaking, this plant has the potential to really cut into pharmaceutical profits, so is probably doomed to be scheduled as a Very Bad Thing.

As long as they're making more plants illegal, they should go ahead and add one of kratom's relatives in the Rubiaceae family, the Coffea Arabica plant, to Schedule I. This plant seems to meet the qualifications...no legitimate medical use, and a very strong potential for addiction and abuse. Anybody who uses this dangerous drug/plant is clearly a threat to society and needs to be locked up immediately.

[tblue37]

15. Caffeine delivered by way of coffee is my addictive psychoactive drug of choice. nt

[pamela]

10. Kicked and signed.

Folks, please sign the petition in the o.p. This ban is ridiculous.

[Calculating]

11. The DEA is corrupt

Another unregulated plant with the potential to cut into big pharma profits. Due to this, it will be put in schedule 1 and banned forever.

The DEA is a corrupt joke of an agency and they need to be disbanded. They literally exist to protect the interests of big pharma/big prison/big law enforcement/big alcohol.

[RAFisher]

12. The whole idea of a Schedule I drug is ridiculous.

How many studies have shown that Schedule I drugs do have medical value? But part of the problem is that the DEA controls who gets to do studies on Schedule I drugs. In theory anyone with approval from the DEA can do research on Scheduled I drugs. Except the DEA rarely ever grants that. The DEA doesn't care about medicine or if scheduled 1 drugs actually do have medical value.

[wildbilln864]

13. where are they threatening to do that?

make it schedule 1. haven't found a source.

[pamela]

14. They've done it.

In America, starting September 30th. My iPad crashes when I try to post a link but it's official. Just do a google news search for "Kratom."

Forbes had a particularly good article about it. The reporter contacted some of the commenters for a follow-up. He said that story got the highest number of hits on their site, Thursday.

[wildbilln864]

16. How do they get to decide these things for us!?

Democracy my ass!

[Crunchy Frog]

18. It's not over till it's over.

The American Kratom Association is going to be challenging the legality of this ban. Nancy Pelosi's son, Paul Pelosi Jr. recently became executive director for this organization, so it's likely they've got a little bit of political clout. I will be tossing them a small donation.

Nothing is finalized until the ban actually goes into effect.

[Lucinda]

20. Thats good to hear...

[Crunchy Frog]

17. Signed the petition. Thank you for posting.

I've never tried it, and only recently become aware of its existence, but am nevertheless following this story very closely. It seems like this herb is helping an awful lot of people who would otherwise be in intractible pain, have substance abuse or addiction issues, or problems with depression and anxiety.

As someone who suffers from chronic, treatment resistant depression and anxiety, it's possible that I could have gotten help from this, where I have not been helped by any pharmacueticals out there, and now I will probably never have the chance to find out.

Some good places to follow this issue:
https://www.reddit.com/r/kratom/

The facebook page for the American Kratom Association, https://www.facebook.com/Americankratomassociation/

A couple of good videos:

This should be of interest to anyone who is concerned about the overreach of th DEA and the drug war, whether or not you're an active user. Let's keep this kicked.

[Lucinda]

19. Huge K&R - I've used Kratom myself, to help when I am backing down my pain med levels

It would be awful if they reschedule.

[Crunchy Frog]

21. Giving this a kick. n/t

[Warren DeMontague]

22. Because prohibition has worked so well for everything else.

It sounds to me like a lot of the issues that have come up have had to do with interactions with other meds, which certainly deserves consideration and research.

But if you are the hammer-shaped Drug war, everything looks like a nail--- that you're going to put people in prison for using.

[CanSocDem]

23. k&r (eom)

[Sunlei]

24. not sure what it is or does but the 'refined plant' floods in asian shipments to the USA

what has Canada done about Asian shipments of krakom plant?

"According to the DEA press release, "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"

[TheSarcastinator]

25. Everything Not Compulsory Must Be Illegal

Cognitive freedom is the basis for all others. The DEA is a fascist organization. Now STFU and take your Prozac.

[SwankyXomb]

26. Rufus T. Firefly said it best

"If any form of pleasure is exhibited/Report to me and it will be prohibited."

[G_j]

27. 61,141 SIGNED, needs 100,000. nt