Politics

Kratom… [agriculture]

…licensed to package and sell kratom by the Oregon Department of Agriculture… that agency, unlike its equivalent in Colorado, treats kratom like food. The federal government displays even more antipathy toward kratom, regularly issuing warnings about the product’s alleged addictive qualities even as advocates tout it as both a pain reliever and a tool to help opioid users kick…

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Science

User demographics, use patterns, and implications: kratom

Kratom was primarily taken orally in doses of 1−3 g (49 %), with daily use (59 %) being most common. Kratom was used for pain (91 %), anxiety (67 %), and depression (65 %), with high ratings of effectiveness. 1,144 (41 %) used kratom to stop or reduce prescription or illicit opioid use, citing decreased…

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Anthropology

…kratom culture…

“A third of our clientele are looking for a caffeine-free alternative to get them through their day,” Day says. “I’m talking soccer moms.” The image of wealthy moms slurping kratom tea in lieu of a cappuccino, or trendy Bay Area residents popping kratom pills socially just for its mild, mellow body high, cuts strangely against…

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Anthropology

Kratom… available in Colorado

Thailand… does… allow domestic consumption of kratom. The FDA [claims it]has linked fifteen deaths between 2014 and 2016 to kratom, [however] fourteen of the victims had other substances in their system, making the actual cause difficult to determine. [Additionally, the “kratom” reported in the 15th case apparently did not distinguish between whole botanical kratom and…

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Medicine/Healing

Oregon lawmakers… [postpone] kratom [regulation]

“This wasn’t quite ready for prime time this year, but I do hope that the advocates continue to work on this issue,” said one Oregon Senator. Kratom can act as… [both a pain reliever and a] stimulant when ingested. It’s made from the leaves of a tree native to southeast Asia, and it’s become popular…

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Biography/Memoir

FDA Chief Scott Gottlieb abruptly resigns

Gottlieb’s FDA has earned its fair share of criticism. Gottlieb also took fire for his agency’s decision to approve Dsuvia, the tablet form of an opioid painkiller more potent than fentanyl. He was also criticized for pushing back the timetable for when new regulatory rules would apply to e-cigarette products, similar to how tobacco cigarettes are regulated.…

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Biography/Memoir

Sound off : on Kratom

Kratom is no more addicting than everyone’s morning cup of coffee to get their day started (for the overwhelming majority). “I’m a kratom user and have been since 2012. I have a regimen of 5 grams of kratom followed by a cup of coffee every morning … If the perception is it’s addicting, then we should ban coffee or…

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