Biologically, kratom acts enough like an opioid that DEA considers it a risk to public safety. The company planned to utilize a regulatory system called emergency situation scheduling to position it in the very same limiting category as marijuana, heroin, and lsd . This classification, Schedule I, is reserved for exactly what the DEA thinks about the most harmful drugs-- those with no redeeming medical worth, and a high capacity for abuse.

KRATOM: THE DISAGREEABLE TREE THAT CAN HELP OPIOID NUTS-- SHOULD THE DEA DOESN'T BAN IT