October 13, 2016 KERA, Kaisher Health News, and NPR
Reporter: Lauren Silverman
"It’s been a wild ride for kratom lately.
Since Aug. 31, when the Drug Enforcement Administration announced its intention to classify the plant as a Schedule I substance, a group of kratom vendors filed a lawsuit against the government to block the move, angry advocates took to social media in protest and scientists questioned whether they would be able to continue kratom research.
Now, the DEA is withdrawing its notice of intent to put kratom in the most restrictive category of controlled substances, with drugs like LSD and heroin. The DEA says it will instead open an official public comment period — to last until Dec. 1, 2016 — for people to share their experiences using kratom as a medical treatment. It has also requested that the Food and Drug Administration expedite scientific research."
Full article: http://khn.org/news/kratom-gets-reprieve-from-drug-enforcement-administration/