Forbes Kratom research could lead to new, less dangerous painkillers -- if it isn't banned by December 1st.

VICE News This opiate-like plant has escaped the DEA's kiss of death — for now

NPR In the U.S., kratom has become popular among people coping with chronic pain and others trying to wean themselves from opioids or alcohol.

Forbes One thing the Senate can agree on? Questioning the DEA’s emergency scheduling authority to deem kratom an illegal substance.

HuffPost Politics "[Kratom] could help so many people live better lives. For some, it could even be a light at the end of the dark tunnel of drug addiction."

Newsweek Kratom acts as a stimulant and painkiller, though some say it can be addictive.

Newsweek Europe Kratom acts as a stimulant and painkiller, though some say it can be addictive.

Michal Henderson The kratom plant is related to coffee Its effects are like a mildly-uplifting coffee It's a tea (everyone knows and loves tea!) Ask, "Why are we trying to send people to jail for drinking tea?" It's a safe alternative to dangerous painkillers for rel Read more ... ieving chronic pain Dipping tobacco ('dip') like skoal has a more intense buzz than kratom; dip is also more addictive and physically harmful. Like dip, people who take too much kratom can get nauseous. But that's it. Research shows that kratom doesn't create addicts, it cures them No deaths have been connected to kratom; all adverse situations related to kratom involved people taking it with other, more dangerous, substances Extracts associated with kratom in sensationalist media reports are NOT actually kratom. Extracts include research chemicals that should be banned without banning kratom--in fact, banning kratom will make extracts even more dangerous The CDC got only 660 calls about kratom from 2010-2015. This is low! Harmless household products got more calls than kratom! Scientists are studying kratom for its potential to be a safe alternative to pharmaceutical painkillers The opioid addiction epidemic is destroying communities across America, researchers believe kratom is a possible solution Overdoses increased in Alabama after kratom was banned Making kratom schedule I prevents scientists from even studying kratom as a possible solution for opioid addiction North Carolina recently decided NOT to ban kratom after hearing testimony from people who benefited from the tea; instead of an outright ban, they made it legal for adults 18+. Even law enforcement doesn't want to ban kratom: In Florida, the FDLE (Florida Department of Law Enforcement) issued a report that said kratom "does not currently constitute a significant risk to the safety and welfare of Florida residents...no pervasive health issues have been attributed to the ingestion of Kratom products in Florida" Appeal to the left: Banning kratom expands the war on drugs and mass incarceration and only benefits Big Pharma Appeal to the right/libertarians: Banning kratom is government overreach and a government agency is restricting individual liberty just because it feels like it; it's also an issue of states' rights. Prohibition is a failed policy, the solution is to make kratom legal for adults 18+ and regulate kratom to make it even safer

Forbes If Kratom has potential medicinal benefits, why did the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency just place it on its most-restricted drug list?

Kathy Mcconnell Brewer Kratom frog is wonderful . I have fibro but since doing kratom I have less pain . thank u kratom frog