The police state has struck again – this time in the state of Arkansas. In what has become an increasing trend across the country, the natural pain killer, stress reliever and recovery assistant known as Kratom has been added to the list of Schedule 1 narcotics by the Arkansas Department of Health. Arkansas is now the sixth state to ban the plant along with Alabama, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Vermont and Indiana.
Kratom, aka mitragyna speciosa, is not an opiate but functions in a similar manner, i.e. attaching to activating opoid receptors. The substance has been shown to alleviate chronic pain and anxiety as well as aid in overcoming addiction despite its own “euphoric effects.”
Studies in mice have actually demonstrated impressive results in overcoming addiction to cocaine. Many Kratom users have also sung the plant’s praises in regards to heroin addiction.