From the Ames Police Department:
Well, here is a new product we have started to see in Ames. If you are a parent, you may also want to know about it. It is called Kratom. Kratom is not a controlled substance in the United States. However, it is controlled in Thailand, Malaysia, and Myanmar (Burma). In 2004, mitragynine and Kratom were both placed in Schedule 9 (the most restrictive level) of the Australian National Drugs and Poisons Schedule.
An Internet search confirmed a large number of Kratom vendors in the United States. Kratom is delivered to the U.S. both from Asia and from western European countries, and shipments commonly pass undetected through U.S. Customs. It is sold in various forms, including leaves, extracts, and powders.
It is interesting to note that the “low dose” effects from the chewing of whole Kratom leaves are described to be stimulating, while “high dose” effects of Kratom extracts are more akin to a narcotic analgesic (i.e., opium-like). In the study of the analgesic activity of Kratom and its constituents, Takayama concluded that the crude extract of the leaves has an opioid agonistic effect [1]. Mitragynine itself is documented to be a depressant [2].
Again, there is nothing illegal about it right now, but we think you should know it is out there. On the package we bought, it says it is not to be sold to people under age 18, but there is no enforcement for it. It looks similar to a spice powder and smells a bit like tea.
What are the health side affects associated with this stuff? If it’s banned in third world countries, it must be bad!
Dumb logic as usual. Pot is legal in North Korea.
We either own our own bodies or we don’t. Iowa loves having the government control our bodies. It’s nobody else’s business what we do as long as we don’t hurt others. So what if some country banned this stuff. Last I looked cigs kill 5 million people a year. If you want to cry about something cry about that. Oh, I see, in THAT case you believe we should have free choice.
Just more Iowa retardation.