The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is set to ban kratom, an herb related to coffee.
As early as Sept. 30, leaves from the tropical kratom tree, which grow wild in Thailand, Malaysia, and other parts of southeast Asia, will be categorized in the United States as a Schedule I controlled substance. Under the Controlled Substances Act, a Schedule I classification is reserved for drugs with a high potential for abuse and no medicinal value. Other Schedule 1 drugs include heroin, LSD, marijuana, ecstasy, and peyote.
When asked how they would cope once kratom was made illegal, the majority of kratom users said they would turn to alcohol, opioids, or other easier-to-obtain illegal drugs to manage their symptoms.
