A Temporary Victory. Also, You Are All Amazing People!

The community of kratom consumers is amazing. I know this is a temporary victory, and perhaps only postpones something inevitable, but I am overwhelmed with happiness (and a bit misty-eyed). Thank you for your passion, energy, and commitment to this cause. I don't have an overabundance of words, but here's a great article by the Washington Post: https://www.readability.com/articles/kvkjkhjm

Some Thoughts on the DEA and Kratom

I expected to be rife with things to write about after August 30th, 2016. I was full of anger, resentment, and a sense that my government was betraying me. However, much of that passion went into writing congresspeople and the Assistant Secretary of Health, signing petitions, and educating my friends and family about what a DEA ban on kratom would mean for people across the country. I've gotten some of that anger out of my system, but lest some of you mistake my lack of posts here for apathy, I can assure that's not the case.

I've been working on acclimating to a possible life without kratom, and have not taken a dose since last Friday morning, which is about four days. After a day of minor yet annoying withdrawal symptoms, I'm fine, but am reminded of the reasons I've been taking kratom for four and a half years:

• It eliminated any trace of acid reflux; no more antacids!
• It gave me the energy I was lacking to pursue a healthy lifestyle which included weight lifting!
• It helped ease my depression (though not my anxiety, which unfortunately seems to require pharmaceuticals).
• The aforementioned energy and mood boost helped me be a more engaged father and a more productive professional.
• It helped with other G.I. issues that I don't really need to disclose here.

Without kratom, I'll survive and be able to live a somewhat normal life. There are many others, though, whose lives will change drastically and who will suffer greatly. I have enduring sympathy for those people. They are people:

• with chronic debilitating pain. Some of them regular people like me, and some of them are veterans who sacrificed their well-being so that we could be free. They are now living pain-free lives.
• who have used kratom to wean themselves off of drugs like heroin or pharmaceutical-grade pain relievers (oxycontin, etc...) and are now able to lead normal, happy, drug-free lives again.
• with debilitating depression, anxiety, or PTSD that can feel happy and at ease again.

Those are the people whose lives will be decimated by the DEA's actions. Some of them might not survive. This blog is for those people. My family and I will be fine, but my heart aches for those who will truly face dire consequences at the hands of the DEA. I will continue to give what time I have to write and educate.

#IAmKratom

#WeAreKratom

I Ran Out! OMG!

I ran out of kratom last week and was unable to drink my usual concoction of kratom and chamomile for a couple of days. I'd like to say that this is going to be an interesting -- dramatic, even -- post about what happens when one has no access to kratom temporarily. The first day was mildly annoying. My stomach felt a little off, and I had some restless leg issues at bedtime. The second day, however, I felt like my normal self. In fact, I felt so much like my normal self that the thought crossed my mind that perhaps kratom is an ingredient that I can do without!

More Misleading Journalism

Please politely tell the author about your positive experiences with kratom: http://www.messenger-inquirer.com/news/local/kratom-gateway-to-opioid-abuse/article_f18ee886-7c95-513b-895f-af9bef947f0f.html

I've grown so frustrated with the misinformation/bias that it's difficult not to tune these articles out. It's unfortunate the journalists only appear interested in presenting one side of a story. It's the same tired formula:

1. Someone dies
2. Investigators find traces of kratom in the bloodstream of the deceased
3. Kratom is to blame; print "kratom is evil" article
4. Throw longtime responsible kratom consumers under the bus

Objectivity, my friends, isn't a moneymaker. Disinformation and sensationalism, however, are what bring the ad clicks. I don't blame a publication for trying to make a buck, but I am certain there's a way to go about making money without sacrificing integrity.

Is Kratom Legal in My State?

I recently received this question through my contact form and thought it might be helpful to answer it in a blog post, since the answer may be beneficial to a larger audience. The American Kratom Association has a section that covers legality, complete with an interactive map of the U.S, detailing the legal status of kratom in each state. Additionally, the Botanical Legal Defense website contains up-to-date status of kratom bills as they progress through state legislatures.