As Pain Sufferers Turn to the Herb Kratom in Place of Opioid Drugs States Try to Ban It

Kratom, an ancient Southeast Asian herb used for reducing pain, increasing energy, and withdrawing from opioids is currently undergoing threats of being banned by individual states, adding to the seven states that have already banned it. Prior to this, kratom users survived a national threat of being classified as a Schedule 1 controlled substance by the DEA in 2016, which would make it illegal to have and use under any circumstances. Kratom's use originated in Southeast Asia centuries ago. It helped addicts get off opium and helped bolster energy and attitude while maintaining alertness for those traveling through or exploring dense jungle environments under hot, humid conditions. Since then, there have been governmental controversies surrounding kratom's use despite testimonies of its safe usefulness by many. Some nations have restricted or banned its use. The state-by-state threats of banning kratom are a result of FDA and media reports of deaths among kratom users that have shown to be inaccurate and misleading. Kratom advocates maintain that kratom's benefits far outweigh its perceived harms. And they are campaigning to keep pure kratom products available for self-medicating while avoiding opioid drugs.

Government Attempting to Clamp Down on Medical Cannabis States While Allowing Opioid Pain Killers to Flow into Black Markets

While other nations are allowing medical allowances for cannabis or beginning to see the potential for cannabis applied medicinally, here in the USA dark clouds are forming federally that threaten existing medical marijuana states. Meanwhile, the real drug epidemic of opioid painkillers goes not only unhampered, but encouraged by the same dark clouds in Washington, D.C. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has hampered legal action against pharmaceutical drug trafficking while the Rohrabacher-Farr amendment that protects medical marijuana states is in jeopardy. A recent 60 Minutes investigative report with a former DEA whistleblower reveals the likely motive behind the recent attacks against medical cannabis and the proliferation of the opioid pain killer epidemic.

Profitable Opioid Painkillers and Synthetic Pot Patents: Big Pharma’s Motivation to Keep Marijuana Illegal

Last year’s November elections included several state ballots to either introduce medical marijuana or expand beyond permissible medical applications and allow “recreational” use for adults. Former marijuana resistant states Florida, North Dakota, Arkansas, and Montana passed medical cannabis measures by popular vote. States that had medical marijuana allowances already in place, California, Massachusetts, Nevada, and Maine approved adult recreational marijuana. But the biggest surprise for many was Arizona voters' rejection of an adult recreational use measure, Proposition 205. Arizona was the only state that refused to advance from its current cannabis status at the polls. Arizonians for Responsible Drug Policy (ARDP) was the major front group for hire that publicly opposed Arizona's Proposition 205. And its main donor of a half million dollars was a pharmaceutical company based out of Arizona known as Insys Therapeutics. Was Insys Therapeutics' motivation to oppose legal marijuana its lucrative opioid painkiller market, or its recent approval for a patent to make a synthetic form of marijuana?

Dr. Oz Looks at Medical Marijuana as a Potential Cure for Opioid Addiction

Opioid painkiller addiction is the fastest growing drug addiction in the United States today, and it was recently featured on the popular Dr. Oz TV show. Dr. Oz pointed out the astonishing statistics that 48 million Americans, one out of every 5, have reported that they have abused prescription drugs. 12 states have more opioid pain pill prescriptions than people. In states where marijuana is legal, however, opioid prescriptions are declining. Dr. Oz looks at the question: Is marijuana the new gateway drug OUT of opioid addiction?