What Exactly Does Kratom Do? Why is it outlawed in a few states, but legal in most?

I see people everyday highly addicted to it. Not good.

Like the last poster said, similar to opiates.

Kratom is addicting

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Kratom: Unsafe and ineffective
Users swear by kratom for mood enhancement and fatigue reduction, but safety issues and questions about its effectiveness abound.

If you read health news or visit vitamin stores, you may have heard about kratom, a supplement that is sold as an energy booster, mood enhancer, pain reliever and antidote for opioid withdrawal. However, the truth about kratom is more complicated, and the safety problems related to its use are concerning.

Kratom is an herbal extract that comes from the leaves of an evergreen tree (Mitragyna speciosa) grown in Southeast Asia. Kratom leaves can be chewed, and dry kratom can be swallowed or brewed. Kratom extract can be used to make a liquid product. The liquid form is often marketed as a treatment for muscle pain, or to suppress appetite and stop cramps and diarrhea. Kratom is also sold as a treatment for panic attacks.

Kratom is believed to act on opioid receptors. At low doses, kratom acts as a stimulant, making users feel more energetic. At higher doses, it reduces pain and may bring on euphoria. At very high doses, it acts as a sedative, making users quiet and perhaps sleepy. Some people who practice Asian traditional medicine consider kratom to be a substitute for opium.

Some people take kratom to avoid the symptoms of opioid withdrawal and because kratom may be bought more easily than prescription drugs.

Kratom is also used at music festivals and in other recreational settings...

Poison control centers in the United States received about 1,800 reports involving use of kratom from 2011 through 2017, including reports of death. About half of these exposures resulted in serious negative outcomes such as seizures and high blood pressure.

… Kratom is not currently regulated in the United States, and federal agencies are taking action to combat false claims about kratom.

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https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/in-depth/kratom/art-20402171

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Kratom is one of those plants that you might assume is a safer, natural alternative to other drugs. But don’t be fooled: There’s a dark side to kratom-derived pills, powders and teas.

Q. What is kratom?
A. Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a tree in the coffee family. It’s found in Southeast Asia and Africa. Traditionally, people have:

Chewed kratom leaves.
Made kratom tea to fight tiredness and improve productivity.
Used kratom as medicine.
Substituted kratom for opium.
Used kratom during religious ceremonies.

Q: Why do people use kratom?
A: Precisely because kratom interacts with the brain’s opioid receptors, some people use it to relieve pain or overcome opioid addiction. Medical communities now try to shy away from opioid use for pain, so many patients who previously relied on them no longer can. Scrambling to find alternatives, some people turn to kratom, which is a compelling replacement because it has similar pain-relieving effects.

People tend (however incorrectly) to think that kratom is safe because it’s “natural.” It’s also legal and easily obtainable in many states — without the stigma attached to narcotics.

… Don’t let the fact that kratom is “natural” trick you into thinking it’s safe. In fact, kratom’s potential for severe side effects outweigh its potential benefits — and in extreme cases, kratom has even caused death.

Q: Is kratom legal?
A: The U.S. Food and Drug and Administration (FDA) has warned consumers about the dangers of using kratom. And as of mid-2021, kratom is illegal in six states:

Alabama.
Arkansas.
Indiana.
Rhode Island.
Vermont.
Wisconsin.

In some states, including California, Colorado, Florida and Mississippi, kratom is legal under state law but banned or controlled in some individual cities, towns and counties. In other states, various kratom legislation is still pending.

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https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-is-kratom/

https://www.fda.gov/news-events/public-health-focus/fda-and-kratom

I keep some in the house for when I want to get faded and fall asleep. A lot of people develop dependency on it, though, just as a replacement for painkillers. Not sure of the effects of long term chronic usage.

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it’s illegal as frick here in AL, but a gas station near me that is just inside GA has a ton of bags of the stuff for sale.

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yep, definitely illegal here. I always buy a bottle when I go back to GA though. Last time I bought a 500 count though so I'm good for a while. I wouldn't buy from a gas station, just like many other products you'll likely find better higher quality at actual stores that sell that type of thing opposed to the register at your nearest Shell station.

As for what it does, there's multiple strains that do different things. White vein is very much an upper and is comprable to geeking a bit. The red vein is a "downer". The green is a mix of both and what I always use. It gives a mild eurphoric feeling along wtih energy.

the best way I can describe the green is almost like a super version of a massive coffee. You're definitely more energeized and pepped up. You feel warmer inside. You'll talk more and be productive. You just feel really good in geeneral overall. It's not quite like an adderrall or blow although some of the effects may be similar, but the best part is no nbad side effects. There isn't a come down, there's no hangover or headache. Eventaully aftera few hours it just wears off and you're back to normal.

I take green borneo capsules 3-4 times a week and have for over a year now. Aboslutely love it.

The best thing about it is you don’t have to buy it off the street and worry about fentanyl

Where in AL are you located?

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What Exactly Does Kratom Do?

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I’ll tell you what it does: it sponsors all of my favorite podcasts

Everything in moderation. It’s just that most people can’t be moderate.

My wife works in the NICU and said the withdraws the babies go through with Kratom is worse than any street drug.