You don’t have to be a health nut or even a herbalist to have heard of Kratom. Heck, just go down to your local gas station and you will see that they are now selling Kratom capsules, powder, or some form of Kratom. This is especially true if you are currently living in the Ohio area. There is simply no denying that the substance in spreading prevalent in the area, but that might be about to come to an end. Many locals are taking the substance for a variety of reasons, but it seems most are more than happy with the results that they are getting. So, why the sudden ban and what’s this all about?
What The CDC Says
The call for the ban came after certain CDC reports. These reports stat that the herbal supplement is the cause of 91 overdose deaths in the United States alone. The time of these deaths took place between July 2016 and December 2017. There is simply no denying that both the CDC and DEA have been big advocates in the fight to ban Kratom and similar herbal supplements, but is this really the right call when it is helping so many individuals? It seems so and the FDA will continue steadily in their approach. Their only comment is that Kratom is an opioid thus should be treated like one.
The Ban Has Been Delayed
Ohio residents currently using Kratom will be glad to know that the state isn’t actually going to go through with the ban. The ban was set to advance on Monday, but it seems that the Friday before the big weekend the Ohio Board of Pharmacy delayed their decision. The board has been quoted saying that they want to take more time to review extensive testimony presented during Friday’s public hearing. It should also be noted that during this public hearing almost 100 avid Kratom users showed up to voice their concerns about the state’s decision to ban the substance.
Many of these users were previous opioid addicts and were using the substance to curb their cravings. So, where does this leave the substance and its current status in the state? It seems as of right now that Kratom will still be legally sold in the state to individuals 18 years of age or older. It will still be available at all your local haunts, but this doesn’t mean that the state isn’t taking strenuous approaches to look for a better way to regulate the substance.
What Are The State’s Future Plans
When it comes to pharmaceuticals and herbal supplements one can easily see that there are hurdles and hurdles of red tape to go through before a bill gets passed or medication gets declared legal. Heck, once it does it declared legal by the state it can then take another 5 to 10 more years to set the laws and regulations in place that will allow the state to legally sell a herbal supplement or medication. Just look at how long it took Colorado to start selling recreational marijuana once the bill was passed. Regardless of the situation, it is pretty obvious that Ohio has to do something.
And, they are going to do just that. Instead of banning the substance and denying all its beneficial properties the state has decided to better regulate it. There is already a bill in motion and it is going to be similar to that of the bill recently passed in Utah. The legislation of Ohio are not afraid to admit that they just simply don’t know enough about Kratom to support or ban its use, but they are more than willing to do what it takes to find out.
A Journey Since September
This really should come as a big win for those near 100 avid Kratom supports that showed up to voice their opinions because the Ohio Board of Pharmacy had been pushing this bill since last September. It was back in late September when the board filed to have the substance listed as a Scheduled I controlled substance. This would put the substance right up there with Heroin and LSD and the board wanted to use Friday’s council meeting as the final stage of the process, but it looks that is going to have to wait until next September hopefully.
Next September the board is supposed take the carefully review all the testimony and assess potential new legislation that could be introduced in the future.
What The State Knows About Kratom
What the state and board do know about Kratom is that it might come available in a variety of forms like pill or powder, but it all comes from the leaves of a Southeast Asian tree. A tree that is, in fact, part of the coffee family. It is currently being sold in gas stations, herbal shops, head shops, gas stations, and online. The two main active compounds in the substance are Mitragynine and 7-hydroxy mitragynine. In fact, these are the two substances that the board wants to be classified as Scheduled I controlled substances.
Why The Call For The Ban?
You learned earlier that the residents of Ohio have been taking the substance for a variety of illnesses. Most of them have even boasted about the positive results that it provided. So, why is the state so keen on the ban? You also learned earlier that the CDC declared Kratom to be right at the heart of 91 overdoses between 2016 and 2017. In addition to this, the board is claiming that the substance has more than a high potential for abuse with no accepted medical benefits. The board was also overly concerned with the fact that the substance produces opioid-like effects.
The substance does attach to the opioid receptors when it is consumed, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that it is or should be classified as an opioid. Many current and habitual users claim that using the substance in low to moderate doses produces stimulating effects, while when taken at higher doses the substance can be effective at fighting pain.
