Kratom Remains Legal In Michigan Despite Troy Police Department’s Warning

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KThere is a lot that can be said about kratom, but nothing can compare to the level of support behind it. With that said, kratom does share some similarities with other drugs, such as cannabis. One of these similarities is both drugs are viewed by the FDA and DEA as having properties that could be addictive. Another similarity is some states have legalized the sale of both kratom and cannabis for recreational purposes. Michigan is one such state. Even with the push to prohibit kratom sales, Michigan lawmakers cannot agree to pass new legislation to ban it. In 2018, Michigan lawmakers passed new legislation to allow adults to use cannabis for recreational purposes.

Troy Police Department Fights Back

The Troy Police Department is taking a stand against the sale of kratom. The department believes the substance can be dangerous, which is also how it is viewed by the FDA. One action taken by the police department drew lots of attention from local businesses, media outlets, and the citizens. After issuing a public warning about the dangers of utilizing kratom, the department began requesting that convenience stores and smokes to stop selling it until federal and state regulations are in place.

The warning was issued in May, which just happened to be the same month that 36-year-old Matthew Dailey of Royal Oak received a two-year prison sentence for unlawfully selling and smuggling kratom.

Michigan smoke shops and gas stations have been selling kratom for quite some time now. Even with the warning from the Troy Police Department, some owners have no intentions of heeding to the warning.

In a WDIV Local 4 report, Troy police described kratom as a “dangerous substance”. Some officials and medical experts agree with the department. In the report, Judge Maureen McGinnis claimed that some of the people that had visited her courtroom suffered from kratom addiction.

Police on the scene of a shooting at the intersection of 3rd and Jefferson Streets on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017, in Troy, N.Y. (John Carl D’Annibale / Times Union)

The FDA’s Take On Kratom

With little evidence to back up the theory that kratom could be helpful in treating medical conditions, such as seizures, chronic pain and depression, the FDA continues to view it as a “dangerous drug”. With that said, the only side effects that have been reported with the drug include seizures, psychosis and hallucinations. Like the Troy Police Department, the FDA continues to discourage the use of kratom.

The FDA has not taken any initiative to approve any drugs that contain kratom. The organization claims that it has received reports that draw a red flag on the safety of kratom. There have been no further details released about these reports. But, the FDA says it will continue to evaluate available research on the issue.

Kratom And Dietary Supplements

Some people believe that the properties in kratom could aid in weight loss. However, there is no evidence to support this theory. The FDA has been monitoring the sale of dietary supplements. In 2014, the FDA requested that U.S. Marshals seize around 25,000 pounds of materials made of raw kratom. The initiative was part of an effort to crackdown on supplements containing kratom. It was estimated that the 25,000 pounds seized from Vans Nuys, California-based company, Rosefield Management, to be worth over $5 million.

Again in 2016, the FDA requested that U.S. Marshals seize illegal kratom-containing products from South Beloit, Illinois-based company, Dordoniz Natural Products. U.S. Marshals seized around 90,000 bottles of kratom-based dietary supplements.

Another 100 cases of kratom-containing products were seized by the U.S. Marshalls the same year. This time the target was Kratom Therapy in Grover Beach, a California-based company, According to the FDA, the products were estimated to be worth $150,000.

What The People Are Saying

People who have utilized kratom and found relief for their ailments believe the FDA is taking it too far. They also disagree with the initiative taken by the Troy Police Department. Consumers and businesses in Michigan continue to uphold the laws, but many refuse to heed to the department’s warnings. As far as they see it, the drug is still legal for sale and to use in the state.

Scientists are also speaking out against the ban of kratom because they fear that research will be hindered. It is unclear if kratom is effective and safe for medical treatment since available evidence is still very limited.

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