Year: 2021
Type: article
Abstract: Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a tropical plant species that is indigenous to Southeast Asia.The leaves of the kratom plant have traditionally been consumed for the stimulant and opioid-like effects it can produce.In the United States, kratom is gaining popularity as an herbal supplement, and a natural alternative to traditional prescription opioids.Kratom is a controversial substance in America as it is not currently regulated on a federal level in the United states and can be legally obtained and used in many areas of the country without a prescription.The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has listed kratom on a list of drugs of concern, but kratom has yet to be scheduled under the Controlled Substances Act.On the state level, kratom laws are constantly changing and vary greatly from state-to-state with some states completely banning the substance and other states adopting legislation that protects kratom consumers by regulating its manufacturing and sale.Most states have no kratom laws and have ultimately left the decision up to the federal government.There are even instances where local counties and cities have abolished kratom in opposition to their own state laws.The majority of readily available legal information on kratom is dispersed amongst individual state government databases.Most of the consolidated legal information on kratom can only be found on websites supported by pro-kratom lobbying organizations which are inherently biased in their representation of the laws in place.The purpose of this article is to provide a complete, current, and unbiased review of federal, state, and local kratom laws in the United states while exploring state and local rationales for such legal variance.This article concludes by discussing possible implications of these differing laws on legislators, consumers, and the healthcare providers moving forward.
DOI: 10.30654/mjpmh.10028
Authors: Ethan Ramirez, Bardia Adibmoradi, Marie Bourgeois
Institution: University of South Florida
Language: English
Subfield: Pharmacology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W3121193207