A vendor in Lake Worth, Fla is seen weighing green vein kratom to sell at a vape shop. Kratom, derived from the dried leaves of a tree in the coffee family, has been used as traditional medicine in Southeast Asia for centuries. The debate over how kratom should be classified and regulated has sparked discussions in statehouses and courtrooms across the United States, with dozens of wrongful death lawsuits filed against the product and its marketing techniques. Recently, a jury in Washington state awarded a $2.5 million verdict in the first kratom wrongful death trial in the country.
Kavasutra, a dimly lit bar in Lantana, Florida, attracts a diverse crowd, including a magician, a repo man, and a metalhead strumming Slipknot on an unplugged Stratocaster. However, one thing you won’t find at this bar is alcohol. Instead, they serve only nonalcoholic botanical drinks, with jumbo plastic cups filled with icy kratom tea being the popular choice among patrons. Kavasutra is just one of many businesses in the U.S. that sell kratom, a controversial herbal supplement that raises questions about its classification and regulation. Moreover, numerous wrongful death lawsuits have been filed, highlighting the concerns surrounding the product and its marketing practices.
Kratom, originally used as a folk medicine in Southeast Asia, has gained popularity among millions of American users who purchase it from gas stations, vape shops, bars, and online. Ash Turner, a long-time patron of Kavasutra, shares how the kratom community at botanical bars has helped him socialize and become more open. Turner, while holding a cup of red tea the size of a football, explains how kratom tea relaxes him and encourages engaging conversations. Another patron, Nico Westley, claims that drinking raspberry hibiscus kratom tea helps him focus on his gaming. As he stabs a digital stake through a vampire’s heart, Westley asserts that kratom enhances his gaming skills and keeps him more alert.
Kratom, when taken in low doses, acts as a stimulant and social lubricant while alleviating aches, pains, depression, anxiety, and opioid withdrawal symptoms. However, in higher doses, it can produce a euphoric state akin to opioids and has been associated with addiction, seizures, and even fatalities. Carlee Palermo, the bartender at Kavasutra, shares her personal experience of drinking kratom tea to alleviate a degenerative condition in her spine. She testifies that kratom has completely eliminated her back pain. However, even though the patrons at Kavasutra have not witnessed any harm caused by kratom, Palermo acknowledges that many of the bar’s visitors are in recovery from substance abuse and credits kratom for its positive impact on them.
The article mentions the tragic cases of Max and Krystal, who lost their lives due to kratom-related incidents. Max, a promising sous chef, collapsed and died after consuming alcohol and a significant amount of kratom. Krystal, a nurse and mother of four, was found unconscious next to a concentrated kratom extract, which the medical examiner declared as the sole cause of her death. These cases have fueled calls for increased government regulation of kratom, particularly in terms of labeling and safe usage guidelines. Tragic as these incidents are, there are still many Americans who attest to the pain relief and anxiety reduction effects of kratom. However, they emphasize the need for proper dosage instructions and advice on potential drug interactions.
Attorney Matt Wetherington, who is involved in numerous kratom-related wrongful death lawsuits, raises concerns over vendors selling a potentially dangerous product without proper warnings and instructions. He argues that when kratom is sold alongside everyday items like Skittles or energy drinks, consumers have no way of knowing that they may be purchasing something far more hazardous.
The article concludes by highlighting the division of opinions regarding kratom’s safety and the FDA’s warning against its use. While the FDA cautions against kratom due to its addictive potential and its impact on brain receptors similar to morphine, the product remains unregulated and unclassified by the agency.
Denial of responsibility! SamacharCentrl is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
Rohit Malhotra is a medical expert and health journalist who offers evidence-based advice on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being. His articles aim to help readers lead healthier lives.
