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Thailand has decriminalized the possession and sale of kratom, a plant that's native to Southeast Asia whose leaves are used as a mild stimulant and painkillerThailand on Tuesday decriminalized the possession and sale of kratom, a plant native to Southeast Asia whose leaves are used as a mild stimulant and painkiller and which has a following in the United States for its pain-relieving qualities. Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin said thousands of legal cases for the possession or sale of kratom were being dropped, and 121 inmates convicted in such cases would be released immediately. Possession of kratom had been punishable...

What is kratom? And why is it being promoted as a ‘wellness’ product to our kids? My college-age son called me recently and asked me about “kratom,” saying that it was all over campus and even some of his friends were trying it. Thankfully, I got the phone call asking about what it was rather than him just hopping on the bandwagon of trying the latest trend. “What is it?” he asked. And for once, I had to admit, that although I had heard of it, I didn’t know much else about it. This concerned me on many levels. How...

A government report released Thursday said kratom was a cause in 91 overdose deaths in 27 states. Officials previously said they knew of 44 nationally. Most who died had also taken heroin, fentanyl or other drugs. But kratom was the only substance detected in seven of the deaths. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the numbers after combing through death certificates and toxicology reports from an 18-month period. Kratom comes from a plant native to Southeast Asia. It is sold in capsules and powders with claims that it helps ease pain, anxiety and drug dependence.

Maybe you’ve never heard of kratom — a plant from Southeast Asia with large, green leaves that are dried, powdered and taken as a drug with mild, opioid-like effects. Kratom has been used in Asia for generations — usually chewed or brewed into a tea — as a tonic, painkiller and an aid for people weaning themselves off opium. It can be bought in powder or capsule form at smoke shops across the country. But dedicated kratom users might want to stock up. As soon as Friday, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) says it will classify kratom as a...

According to Google Trends, interest in the search term “Kratom” has increased sharply from 2011—by a factor of three. Insider blogs note that it trends higher than many other supplements. What’s more, vastly conflicting descriptions of its benefits and side effects are all over the Web, along with troubling reports of adulterated versions of the substance being sold online. Not surprisingly, eager beaver regulators have jumped into the fray. But what, exactly, is Kratom? Formally known as Mitragyna speciosa, it is a tree that grows from 3-20 meters (10-66 ft) tall, native to Southeast Asia. The plant is a member...

A New Jersey lawmaker wants to ban an organic herb fueling the latest drug craze among teens. As WCBS 880’s Sean Adams reported, Kratom gives a high similar to heroin. The substance is legal and kids can buy it, Adams reported. The plant is related to coffee; it is native to southeast Asia and has long been used as an herbal pain reliever. But it is also psychoactive and can cause hallucinations and addictions, says New Jersey Assemblyman Ron Dancer, who wants to make the substance illegal. “According to the FDA, there is a known toxicity in multiple organs that...