Kratom Science Podcast

Final Episode

Kratom Science — Thu, 04 Jan 2024 18:28:28 +0000

Brian Gallagher will be moving on from Kratom Science after this final episode.

I started as a writer and social media manager at Kratom Science in 2018, and developed the podcast in 2019. I have had the privilege of interviewing world renowned kratom experts, pharmacologists, psychologists, social scientists, chemists, addiction psychiatrists, veteran journalists, activists, and regular people who use kratom.

I am moving on to build my own independent platform. I'm calling it the Drug War Post. I will be doing much of the same work as I've done here, but covering other topics as well as kratom. You can follow me on Twitter @DrugWarPost

I would like to thank all my podcast guests, listeners, commenters, and especially the folks at Kratom Science who gave me this great opportunity. This work will continue elsewhere. Take care!

Kratom Science is on Facebook.com/kratomscience, Twitter @kratomscience Music: Risey, "Memories of Thailand" Kratom Science Podcast is produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com So far we don't do advertising or ask for donations, but please support the Kratom Science Podcast and Like, Subscribe, Share, Rate, Review, and Comment wherever you listen to podcasts. Thank you! Disclaimer: None of the content on this or any episode of Kratom Science Podcast, Kratom Science Journal Club, or on any of the pages of KratomScience.com constitutes or should be considered medical claims or medical advice.

112. Zachary Louisiana to Ban Kratom w/ Paul Schexnaydre

Kratom Science — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 09:00:00 +0000

Town officials linked to law enforcement interests want to criminalize kratom consumers in Zachary Louisiana. A hearing may be anywhere form September 5 - 12. Please contact ambre.devirgilio@cityofzachary.org and dmcdavid@cityofzachary.org and please ask them to allow you to roam free with kratom tea in that part of OUR country. The kratom law in Louisiana passed this summer still allowed for municipalities to ban kratom. These laws don't come from a vaccuum - moneyed interests are always involved. They don't care about whether or not it benefits people. Organize with Louisiana kratom advocates by emailing kr8madvocate@gmail.com

Kratom Science is on Facebook.com/kratomscience, Twitter @kratomscience, TikTok @kr80mscience Music: Risey, "Memories of Thailand" Kratom Science Podcast is produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com So far we don't do advertising or ask for donations, but please support the Kratom Science Podcast and Like, Subscribe, Share, Rate, Review, and Comment wherever you listen to podcasts. Thank you! Disclaimer: None of the content on this or any episode of Kratom Science Podcast, Kratom Science Journal Club, or on any of the pages of KratomScience.com constitutes or should be considered medical claims or medical advice.

111. Jakub Zientala of European Kratom Alliance Returns

Kratom Science — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 09:00:00 +0000

Jakub Zientala is co-founder and Government Relations Manager of the European Kratom Alliance. He has appeared on KSP episodes #82 and #96. In this episode we have an update about regulation of kratom as a "psychomodular" substance in Czech Republic. We also talk about the legal status of kratom in the Netherlands and other European countries. Stick around for the whole episode, as Jakub unveils some exciting news about kratom in Southeast Asia.

European Kratom Alliance eka.eu/

Call in and Leave a Message! 412-353-9770

Kratom Science — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 09:00:00 +0000

Call in 412-353-9770 and leave a message with your kratom questions, testimonies, experiences, news, and anything else kratom related. We don't give medical advice, we just direct you toward the latest science.

We love you,

Kratom Science

110. Adam Peak and Leann Pierson Fight for Kratom in Louisiana

Kratom Science — Thu, 15 Jun 2023 09:00:00 +0000

My guests this week are Adam Peak and Leann Pierson from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. They co-own Bella Sunrise Smokeshop in Baton Rouge. Recently Adam and Leann gave emotional and informative testimony before Louisiana's Senate and House, as well as in Livingston Parish, to oppose the prohibition of kratom, and in support of regulation bills. Will their help, both proposed kratom ban bills were defeated, as was an ordinance proposal that would have criminalized kratom consumers in Livingston Parish. We talk about Louisiana politics, Adam and Leann's personal experience with kratom, and the issues around running a shop selling items that seem to be threatened regularly by potential bans.

Bella Sunrise Insta https://www.instagram.com/bella_sunrisebr Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100054435341943

109. At the Cannabis Museum Grand Opening

Kratom Science — Thu, 18 May 2023 09:00:00 +0000

Brian covers his trip to Athens, Ohio in April for a visit to the Cannabis Museum. The museum, founded and curated by Don Wirtshafter with the help of many including Kratom Science Journal Club co-host Dr. Jon Cachat, displayed its first exhibit "Hemp, Hackles, and History". While Brian was there, the museum parking lot was grounds for "Community Hemp Fair" featuring hemp farmers, vendors, music, and speakers.

Do yourself a favor and visit Athens, Ohio to see the Cannabis Museum https://www.cannabismuseum.com

Speakers in this episode:

Joy Beckerman - Hemp activist, speaker, consultant http://www.hempace.com/
Don Wirtshafter - Cannabis Museum curator, collector of artifacts, cannabis historian/expert, lawyer https://www.mjformds.org/speaker/don-e-wirtshafter/
Kristyn Robinson - Cannabis Museum Director
Thane Evans - Co-Founder (with Dr. Jon Cachat) of Cannabis Lab Technician Associates degree program at Hocking College, hemp farmer https://www.instagram.com/edibloomgardens/
Sasha Sigetic - Program Director, Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) https://www.oeffa.org
Josh Crosier - https://www.soiledobsessions.com/

107. Dr. Peter Grinspoon on Cannabis Science and the Drug War

Kratom Science — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 09:00:00 +0000

Dr. Peter Grinspoon is an instructor at Harvard Medical School, primary care physician at Massachusetts General Hospital, and a 25-year cannabis specialist. His new book, released on 4/20/23 is called Seeing Through the Smoke: A Cannabis Specialist Untangles the Truth About Marijuana. We speak about how the science of cannabis, as well as kratom, is often skewed by the War on Drugs on one side that downplays benefits and exaggerates risks, and "Cannatopians" on the other side, who do the opposite.

Buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/Seeing-Through-Smoke-Untangles-Cannabis/dp/1633888460

https://linktr.ee/drpetergrinspoon

https://twitter.com/Peter_Grinspoon/

106. Is Kratom Safe or Unsafe?

Kratom Science — Thu, 06 Apr 2023 09:00:00 +0000

Brian looks at a news report from Bedford, Texas where a diabetic man ended up in the ICU after long term, heavy kratom use including 8-10 "bottles" per day (presumably extract shots) as well as vaping kratom. Yes kratom vaping is actually a thing, and it apparently damaged his lungs. In comparison to the majority of kratom consumers who use plain leaf kratom, cases like this illustrate the toxicology maxim "The dose makes the poison." Green tea extract causes the majority of herb-induced liver injuries, yet headlines don't speak of overdoses on "green tea" as though it's the same thing, nor coffee when someone dies of an extracted caffeine overdose. But could the kratom community communicate this important distinction more effectively?

Plus, Claudia Merandi testifies in Rhode Island in favor of the kratom legalization bill there, and the Louisiana Sheriff's Association lobbies to criminalize kratom consumers in the state.

"Bedford Family Speaks Out on Kratom Dangers After Son's Overdose" https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/bedford-family-speaks-out-on-kratom-dangers-after-sons-overdose/3230470/?_osource=db_npd_nbc_kxas_twt_shr
4-5-2023 [Rhode Island] House Committee on Corporations https://ritv.devosvideo.com/show?video=e8edca35b08a&apg=c1bd29a8
"Kratom Consumer Protection Act Introduced in Louisiana Legislature as East Feliciana Parish Looks to Ban" https://www.kratomscience.com/2023/04/04/kratom-consumer-protection-act-introduced-in-louisiana-legislature-as-east-feliciana-parish-looks-to-ban/
"2023 State Kratom Bills with Sponsor Contact Information" https://www.kratomscience.com/2023/01/20/2023-state-kratom-bills-with-sponsor-contact-information/

105. Unpacking Claims of Kratom-Induced Hallucinations

Kratom Science — Thu, 30 Mar 2023 15:23:01 +0000

Brian talks about his new article "Kratom and Hallucinations: Examining the Evidence Behind the Claims". It boils down to one case report of a man who hadn't slept for a week, 45 poison control center calls, and 6 mild symptoms unrelated to kratom use out of a 150 user sample. Yet with such sparse evidence, 5.7 million Google search results and even a handful of peer-reviewed papers claim kratom causes hallucinations or psychosis. Plus, a short update on state kratom bills.

Kratom and Hallucinations: The Evidence Behind the Claims https ://www.kratomscience.com/2023/03/29/kratom-and-hallucinations-examining-the-evidence-behind-the-claims/ 2023 State Kratom Bills https://www.kratomscience.com/2023/01/20/2023-state-kratom-bills-with-sponsor-contact-information/

104. Allegheny County Council’s Bethany Hallam on the Failed Drug War, Incarceration, and Inmate Deaths

Kratom Science — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Bethany Hallam is Councilperson-at-Large for Allegheny County. At age 29 she defeated a long-term incumbent after running openly as a formerly incarcerated person in Allegheny County Jail in recovery from opioid use disorder. She now sits on the jail's oversight board. We talk about harm reduction, drug decriminalization, the exploitation of incarcerated people, and why inmates are dying in county jails across the United States.

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103. Brad Miller on his testimony at GA capitol, colitis, and advocating for the right to self-treatment

Kratom Science — Thu, 02 Mar 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Check out Brad's podcast, Chronically Human https://www.youtube.com/@chronicallyhuman1582

Brad Miller recently testified for his right to consume kratom at a judiciary hearing at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta. In his testimony Brad emphasized the sovereignty of the individual and the right to choose his own treatment for his chronic conditions. "This fallacy that the FDA and the medical establishment is a perfect answer for everybody is absolutely wrong," he said. “Our experiences are our own, our pain is our own."

At 11 years old, Brad was diagnosed with severe case Ulcerative Colitis and had to have his colon removed. Throughout his life he's had 20 surgeries and 50 hospital stays. He talks about his journey with chronic pain and how kratom, that he consumes sometimes, has been a tool in his wellness toolbox

Brad's recent testimony at the Georgia State Capitol https://www.youtube.com/live/sdYJPLApQBY?feature=share&t=14739

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102. Dr. Cornel Stanciu returns to talk about his new kratom survey

Kratom Science — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 10:00:00 +0000

"Are you a #kratom user? Consider participating in this ~3 min long anonymous survey and help us better understand kratom: https://survey.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5dWBqO4QpQ7cTmC?fbclid=IwAR0Rot4KzS93TBeiTSbw45AwrmT-SRFEz6uC04-awTIyJEntgGpD8zA3ALA " - Tweet from Dr. Stanciu

Dr. Cornel Stanciu is an addiction psychiatrist and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, and Director of Addiction Services at New Hampshire Hospital. His new survey on kratom use is anonymous and open to all kratom consumers.

As more people consume doses higher than in traditional use, risk of unmanageable kratom dependency and addiction increases. At Kratom Science we are dedicated to promoting safe use to adults who choose to use kratom, and we understand that addiction to kratom is indeed possible. We welcome cooperation with professionals like Dr. Stanciu who treat addiction.

101. Paul and Fallon Schexnaydre Fight for Kratom in Louisiana

Kratom Science — Thu, 16 Feb 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Paul Schexnaydre fought in Afghanistan and after coming home says he "lost ten years of my life" to the alcohol, opioids, and methamphetamine he used to self-treat PTSD. He later discovered kratom, quit other substances, and now runs a business called Sacred Rivers Tea Company with his wife, Fallon, who joins him on the podcast today. Paul recently testified on two occasions to the Livingston Parish Ordinance Committee, a group of council members who were discussing a possible kratom ban. At the second meeting, Paul was followed home by police after leaving information with the committee that exposed Sheriff Jason Ard as being connected to a rehabilitation center that lobbied in favor of a ban in nearby Ascension Parish. On February 9th, a kratom ban introduced by councilman Shane Mack didn't receive a second at the Livingston Parish council meeting.

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100. Kratom News: Livingston Cops Lobby to Make More Criminals, State Bans and KCPA, Will FDA Work with Congress?

Kratom Science — Thu, 09 Feb 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Livingston Parish, Louisiana council is voting on a kratom ban ordinance tonight jard@lpcgov.com, gtalbert@lpcgov.com, mkeen@lpcgov.com, jwascom@lpcgov.com, esandefur@lpcgov.com, gmcmorris@lpcgov.com, tgirlinghouse@lpcgov.com, rdelatte@lpcgov.com, smack@lpcgov.com

We hit 100 episodes! We're in the middle of legislation season, so there's no time to celebrate. Brian goes through the January 31st ordinance council meeting in Livingston Parish, Louisiana - the Sheriff's weak justification for making criminals out of kratom consumers, and his deputy's fumbling over basic information drives vendor Paul Schexnayder to speak his mind. Council will place the kratom ban ordinance up for a vote. The public will have a chance to speak Thursday Feb 9, 2023, 6:00pm at the Governmental Building, 20355 Government Blvd, Livingston LA 70754 in the Livingston Parish Council Chambers. Then on Monday, February 13, 1:30pm in Atlanta Georgia at the State Capitol Building, the Judiciary Committee will meet to discuss the statewide kratom ban bill. AKA is asking kratom advocates to meet outside Room 132 at 1:00pm. Brian also talks about the future of regulation, why the KCPA doesn't prevent future bans, and why it needs to be stronger. Finally the FDA announced that it wants to work with Congress to create a new regulatory pathway for CBD, so why don't they do the same with kratom?

References:

"Livingston Parish Ordinance Committee now leans toward kratom ban; Sheriff tied to rehab speaks" https://www.kratomscience.com/2023/02/01/livingston-parish-ordinance-committee-now-leans-toward-kratom-ban-sheriff-tied-to-rehab-speaks/
"2023 State Kratom Bills with Sponsor Contact Information" https://www.kratomscience.com/2023/01/20/2023-state-kratom-bills-with-sponsor-contact-information/
"FDA indicates need to better regulate CBD products and plans to work with Congress on new rules" https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/26/health/cbd-new-regulation-fda/index.html
"Federal Bill Would Limit FDA Power Over Kratom" https://www.kratomscience.com/2023/01/09/federal-bill-would-limit-fda-power-over-kratom/

99. Bridget Williams on Surviving Pain, Homelessness, and Heroin on the Streets of NYC

Kratom Science — Thu, 26 Jan 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Bridget Williams tells us she was "disabled from birth". She was born with uniplegic cerebral palsy to a mother in active alcoholism. She was sexually assaulted as a teenager at a boarding school that she subsequently ran away from prior to graduating. At 16 she was kicked out of her home, lived on the streets of the Lower Eastside of Manhattan, and started to use heroin. After cleaning up through a methadone program, she volunteered at the Lower Eastside Harm Reduction Center, handing out sterile injecting equipment and basic supplies, and referring people to STD testing and mental healthcare.

In 2014 she moved to Mississippi to stay with extended family. She discovered kratom in 2016 which helped her with multiple chronic pain conditions, especially after 2020 when she was diagnosed with extreme rheumatoid arthritis. Bridget plans to move back to New York next year, as Mississippi's healthcare system and extreme attitudes toward kratom and support of its prohibition are not adequate to address her condition. Bridget is a kratom advocate and wants to reignite the type of grassroots support for legal, accessible, and clean kratom that the community had in 2016.

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98. Wendy Price, Wife of Marshall Price

Kratom Science — Thu, 19 Jan 2023 10:00:00 +0000

GoFundMe - Donate to the Family of Marshall Price https://www.gofundme.com/f/marshall-price-justice-fund

***The family of Marshall Price is holding a peaceful demonstration this weekend*** SATURDAY JANUARY 21, 11AM-5PM (The same time frame Marshall suffered in his cell without medical attention) at Greene County Jail 1809 N Rockingchair Rd, Paragould, AR 72450 Posted to Justice for Marshall Price Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/845385013248720 by his daughter, Julian Jones: "This protest’s goal: Community Commodity We want as many Greene County residents to attend as possible! We will be serving FREE food!! Marshall Price’s death is a safety concern to our community. Let us band together, rally for Justice. Let us get to know one another. Let us show glory to God Almighty. Let us show the community just how much WE CARE!"

Wendy Price had three sons with her husband Marshall Price. Marshall was arrested in Arkansas in 2021 and sentenced to 10 years in prison for carrying kratom for personal use. Three weeks after his sentencing, on December 8, 2022, he was killed in prison under suspicious circumstances. At the time of his arrest, Wendy and Marshall were amicably separated and remained close friends. Marshall had recently gone to Michigan to get clean from heroin, where he discovered kratom. Wendy talks about how Marshall discovered kratom, and the circumstances around his arrest, his tragic death, the behavior of Greene County police toward the family, and what the family is doing about it.

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97. Livingston Parish Kratom Ban; Sheriff Tied to Rehab Center

Kratom Science — Thu, 12 Jan 2023 10:00:00 +0000

!!!Supporters of the right to consume kratom are encouraged to attend!!! The Livingston Parish Ordinance Committee meeting Thursday January 12, 2023 at 5:00 pm at the Governmental Building 20355 Government Blvd Livingston LA 70754 in the Livingston Parish Council Chambers. On the Agenda: Discussion of Kratom prohibition ordinance

Sources brought to the attention of Kratom Science that Sheriff Jason Ard, who proposed the kratom prohibition ordinance that his brother Jeff introduced to the council of Livingston Parish, Louisiana, has been receiving campaign contributions since 2013 from Smith Tank and Steel, a construction contractor who sponsors Life House, a Christian drug rehabilitation center with two locations in the area. Members from Life House testified in favor of kratom prohibition at a hearing at Ascension Parish in August 2022. Some rehabilitation centers are in favor of prohibition as they can receive new clients through the court system. The FAQ page of the Life House website states, “We have developed a relationship with probation departments and will work with the legal system on your behalf.”

Plus, Brian talks about the Federal Kratom Bill and state bills to ban kratom in Mississippi.

96. Jakub Zientala of European Kratom Alliance on Kratom in Czech Republic

Kratom Science — Thu, 05 Jan 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Jakub Zientala calls in from the Netherlands to talk about the pending kratom legislation in the Czech Republic. His organization, the European Kratom Alliance (EKA) along with the Czecho-Slovak Kratom Association (ČSAK), and the progressive Pirate Party is pushing for regulation that would fall outside food and drug laws of the European Union. Kratom, along with cannabis, psilocybin, and some other low risk drugs would be classified as "psychomodular" and regulated for consumption. The pro-kratom groups have an ally in Czech Republic's National Drug Policy Coordinator Jindřich Vobořil, who favors real solution to drugs issues like harm reduction and decriminalization. However, widespread youth consumption of kratom due to lax regulations on sales has contributed to a moral panic, and thus prohibition is not off the table. We will know what type of regulation Czech parliament decides to pass in the next few weeks.

Support the European Kratom Alliance https://eka.eu/support EKA Statement on Kratom Regulation in Czechia https://eka.eu/statement-on-kratom-regulation-in-czechia/ "Czech children have taken a liking to the dangerous drug. Kratom can be found almost anywhere" https://czechia.postsen.com/news/74985/Czech-children-have-taken-a-liking-to-the-dangerous-drug-Kratom-can-be-found-almost-anywhere.html "We demand regulation of kratom and a ban on minors, says the association". News report and CSKA statement https://refresher.cz/123209-Zadame-regulaci-kratomu-a-zakaz-pro-nezletile-zni-z-asociace "Due to the lack of legislation, even children are exposed to the addictive substance kratom. The Pirates expert group prepared a proposal for rational regulation". Statement by the Pirate Party https://www.pirati.cz/jak-pirati-pracuji/kvuli-chybejici-legislative-se-k-navykove-latce-kratom-dostavaji-i-deti-odborna-skupina-piratu-pripravila-navrh-racionalni-regulace/

Kratom Science is on Facebook.com/kratomscience and Twitter @kratomscience Music: Risey, "Memories of Thailand" Kratom Science Podcast is produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com So far we don't do advertising or ask for donations, but please support the Kratom Science Podcast and Like, Subscribe, Share, Rate, Review, and Comment wherever you listen to podcasts. Thank you! Disclaimer: None of the content on this or any episode of Kratom Science Podcast, Kratom Science Journal Club, or on any of the pages of KratomScience.com constitutes or should be considered medical claims or medical advice.

95. Former LEO Whistleblower Jon Griggs Talks about the Marshall Price Case

Kratom Science — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 21:24:44 +0000

Jon Griggs was involved in a high profile whistleblower case after he was attacked for exposing a heroin ring in a prison. He's now challenging the events around the Marshall Price case. Marshall Price died in prison from injuries that are consistent with him being beaten to death. A man with no history of violent crimes, Price overcame a heroin addiction with the help of kratom. Griggs put in an open records request for police camera footage of Marshall Price's arrest weeks before Price was killed in prison. Jon talks about the reasons why Marshall was possibly beaten to death.

Jon Griggs is @batchkratom on twitter and runs the reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/smallbatchkratom/

94. Marshall Price Update #2

Kratom Science — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 18:32:52 +0000

GoFundMe fundraiser for Marshall Price's family https://www.gofundme.com/f/marshall-price-justice-fund?qid=b822a1c4a9f7b7be0c44c34d8931bc77

Demonstration: Friday December 16, 5pm at Greene County Jail 1809 N Rockingchair Rd Paragould, AR 72450 "Bring signs/posters that say things like: #JusticeforMarshall, Kratom Saved His Life"

Tweetstorm: Friday December 16, 6pm CST #JusticeForMarshall #JusticeForMarshallPrice #IAmMarshallPrice

Updating you on what we know about the circumstances and death of Marshall Price, the man who died of suspicious injuries in Greene County Jail on in Arkansas on December 7, 2022. His death came just 3 weeks after being convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison for "felony trafficking" of kratom, when we was only carrying, the state claims, just over 200 grams, or 7 ounces. Greene County Jail has a history of suspicious deaths and injuries of inmates. The Greene County Sheriff confirmed Price died in custody after giving confusing statements about the circumstances. Open records requests into the case of Marshall Price are being ignored by the county.

Related Articles

Inmate letter to sister on the death of Marshall Price https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=624005296395559&set=a.553570803439009
"In-custody death of Greene County man devastates family" https://neareport.com/2022/12/09/in-custody-death-of-greene-county-man-devastates-family/
(Another inmate death in Greene Co Jail from 2021) "Sheriff's Department reports inmate death" https://www.paragoulddailypress.com/news/sheriffs-department-reports-inmate-death/article_3a162635-5c60-5559-b6fc-6cb0b6364d85.html

Kratom Science is on Facebook.com/kratomscience and Twitter @kratomscience Music: Risey, "Memories of Thailand Kratom Science Podcast is produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.co So far we don't do advertising or ask for donations, but please support the Kratom Science Podcast and Like, Subscribe, Share, Rate, Review, and Comment wherever you listen to podcasts. Thank you! Disclaimer: None of the content on this or any episode of Kratom Science Podcast, Kratom Science Journal Club, or on any of the pages of KratomScience.com constitutes or should be considered medical claims or medical advice.

Marshall Price, Man Sentenced to 10 years for Kratom, Allegedly Killed In Prison 3 Weeks After Conviction

Kratom Science — Fri, 09 Dec 2022 10:21:49 +0000

UPDATE: There is a GoFundMe for Marshall's family to pay for funeral expenses. Please share this on your social media with the hashtags #JusticeForMarshallPrice #JusticeForMarshall https://www.gofundme.com/f/marshall-price-justice-fund?fbclid=IwAR2_lkkG80LQBNCYcQTmOFy5ghoJxqDjDl76HgFdP0ePkpZ0lAHthAn_GUg

Marshall Price, an Arkansas man sentenced on November 16 to 10 years in prison for carrying 7 ounces of kratom, was killed in Greene County Jail, according to his family. The Inmate Roster of Greene County Jail listed Price as “released” at 2:37AM on the morning of December 8. According to his daughter, Mallory Hobbs, in correspondence with Misty Brown, Price’s injuries included “a massive skull fracture, ruptured spleen, and several severely crushed ribs.. he’s been sent to our state crime lab in little rock”. After Price was convicted on 11/16, Prosecutor Keith Chrestman put out a press release celebrating his victory. “Our communities won’t tolerate drug trafficking” he declared. Chrestman also made news in February 2022 for being instrumental in blocking Damien Echols from introducing DNA evidence into the infamously unjust case of the West Memphis 3.

93. Kratom News for December 2022… Read ‘n’ Rant!

Kratom Science — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Brian flies solo for the December edition of Kratom News, where he reads and rants about the case of the Arkansas man sentenced to 10 years in prison for carrying kratom, another family sues a kratom vendor for wrongful death, police in Louisiana continue to lobby so they can arrest kratom consumers, a wealthy New Jersey beach town gets bored and outlaws kratom and Delta-8, and we have an update from Europe about the fight for rational kratom regulation in Czech Republic.

References:

"Arkansas man sentenced to 10 years for “trafficking” kratom" https://www.kratomscience.com/2022/11/21/arkansas-man-sentenced-to-10-years-for-trafficking-kratom/
"Florida family sues kratom vendor for wrongful death; Strong kratom extract found" https://www.kratomscience.com/2022/12/02/florida-family-sues-kratom-vendor-for-wrongful-death-strong-kratom-extract-found/
"FPPJ considers adopting ordinance to ban kratom" https://www.knoe.com/2022/12/01/fppj-considers-adopting-ordinance-ban-kratom/
"Beach Haven Bans Sales of Kratom, Delta-8" https://www.thesandpaper.net/articles/beach-haven-bans-sales-of-kratom-delta-8/
"Too Much Fluff Over Flavors" https://townhall.com/columnists/kimmurray/2022/12/07/too-much-fluff-over-flavors-n2616744
"Groups pushing for kratom regulation in Czech Republic" https://www.kratomscience.com/2022/12/07/groups-pushing-for-kratom-regulation-in-czech-republic/

92. Kratom News for November 2022

Kratom Science — Fri, 11 Nov 2022 07:00:54 +0000

Brian and Kailee talk about the results of the state marijuana and psychedelics referendums from Tuesday's election, a wrongful death lawsuit against kratom companies and the American Kratom Association in Georgia, a death in Transylvania County, North Carolina attributed to suboxone mixed with vaped kratom, a drug company is undergoing human clinical trials for a mitragynine based drug, and another Louisiana parish bans kratom after police lobbying.

REFERENCES:

“Live 2022 Marijuana Election Results” https://www.marijuanamoment.net/live-2022-marijuana-election-results/
“Lawsuit Slams Kratom Industry; Antihistamine Combined with Kratom Extract May Have Caused Death” https://www.kratomscience.com/2022/11/04/lawsuit-slams-kratom-industry-antihistamine-combined-with-kratom-extract-may-have-caused-death/
“Everything Kratom Podcast: S7 E2 – Something Everyone Seems To Be Missing About A Recent Kratom Death” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5j8YGNIceLo
“Father recalls tragedy, highlights vaping dangers” https://www.transylvaniatimes.com/lifestyles/father-recalls-tragedy-highlights-vaping-dangers/article_91c1c4ce-5c6e-11ed-b6ea-73a336d07d06.html
atai Life Sciences press release https://finance.yahoo.com/news/atai-life-sciences-announces-positive-110000366.html
“Rapides Parish, Louisiana Criminalizes Kratom Consumers” https://www.kratomscience.com/2022/10/19/rapides-parish-louisiana-criminalizes-kratom-consumers/

91. Drew Turner Returns

Kratom Science — Thu, 20 Oct 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Drew Turner is a U.S. Navy combat veteran who appeared in the documentary A Leaf of Faith. We talk about an experimental extract he tried, recreational cannabis in his home of Michigan, Biden's federal cannabis possession pardons, the present and future of kratom and cannabis regulation could look like, rare cases of severe kratom toxicity and why they occur, lead and mining in the kratom growing region, Thailand's new market, and kratom farming in the Philippines.

90. Kratom News for October 2022

Kratom Science — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Kailee joins Brian to cover kratom and cannabis news for the past month. This month: Biden pardons thousands convicted of simple possession of weed, Michigan has a bill regulating kratom, a Welsh man can't believe kratom importation is illegal in the UK, lab testing will be required for kratom exports from Thailand, and Kratom Science asks whether a 7-hydroxymitragynine-based drug is a good idea.

We also cover Mike "The Kratom Guy" Overstreet who went to Boston's "methadone mile" (aka Mass and Cass) to hand out care packages to homeless people living there, including kratom. Check out Mike's TikTok video https://www.tiktok.com/@reallymikeo/video/7141238139451919659 Check him out on Twitter https://twitter.com/KratomGuyShow Donate to Mike for more care packages via https://cash.app/$MikeOverstreet1 or https://account.venmo.com/u/Mike-Overstreet1

News Stories Covered:

"Biden pardons thousands for ‘simple possession’ of marijuana", 10/6/2022, AP https://t.co/hysW5Libzj
"DEA Admits ‘Racial, Ethnic and Class Prejudice’ Led To Drug Criminalization And The Agency’s Own Founding", 10/4/2022, Marijuana Moment, https://www.marijuanamoment.net/dea-admits-racial-ethnic-and-class-prejudice-led-to-drug-criminalization-and-the-agencys-own-founding/
"Michigan may regulate sale of kratom, an herbal mix linked to overdoses", 9/28/2022, Bridge Michigan, https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-health-watch/michigan-may-regulate-sale-kratom-herbal-mix-linked-overdoses?utm_source=Bridge%20Michigan&utm_campaign=df87091d9d-Bridge%20Newsletter%2009/29/2022&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c64a28dd5a-df87091d9d-82415636
"Pembroke man in court for psychoactive drug seizure", 10/2/2022, Western Telegraph, https://www.westerntelegraph.co.uk/news/23007822.pembroke-man-court-psychoactive-drug-seizure/
"Govt lab tasked with monitoring quality of Thai kratom products", 10/3/2022, The Nation, https://www.nationmultimedia.com/thailand/economy/40020673
"Is it a good idea to make a 7-hydroxymitragynine based drug?", 9/28/2022, Kratom Science, https://www.kratomscience.com/2022/09/28/is-it-a-good-idea-to-make-a-7-hydroxymitragynine-based-drug/

89. Journalist Joanna Bernstein on Kratom as Harm Reduction and M.A.T.

Kratom Science — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Joanna Bernstein is a writer originally from Pittsburgh who now resides in Oregon. In 2014 Joanna had a painful bacterial infection that started her on opiates. She eventually developed an addiction and wrote about her experience with recovery in a "3/4 house" in Pittsburgh's Carrick neighborhood. Later she would nearly relapse after being denied pain medication for Stage 4 endometriosis. That's when Joanna discovered kratom.

We also talk about Oregon's Measure 110 that decriminalized possession of small amounts of any illicit drug in the state, and directed funds from Oregon's legal recreational cannabis to expanded addiction treatment. We talk about kratom as medication assisted treatment, harm reduction, kratom extracts, and kratom as an alternative to illicit opioids when people in pain are refused medication by doctors.

Follow Joanna Bernstein on Twitter @JoannaPgh

Articles by Joanna Bernstein:

2020: "A three-quarter home in Pittsburgh was a key stop in my recovery from opioid addiction". Public Source. https://www.publicsource.org/three-quarter-home-pittsburgh-recovery-from-opioid-addiction/
2020: "COVID-19 changes the landscape of drug treatment and challenges providers and patients". Public Source. https://www.publicsource.org/covid-19-changes-the-landscape-of-drug-treatment-and-challenges-providers-and-patients/
2021: "After ICE: Life in a Guatemalan immigrant community in rural Ohio". Belt Magazine. https://beltmag.com/guatemalan-immigrant-dover-ohio-ice/

88. Kratom News for September 2022

Kratom Science — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Kailee joins Brian to look at the latest kratom news. This month we look at an investigative report asking questions about academic freedom at University of Florida that directly affected kratom scientists, past podcast guest Oliver Grundmann and Christopher McCurdy. Kratom regulations preventing sales to minors pass Pennsylvania House. A kratom consumer protection act is vetoed by the Missouri governor based on false information. Kratom sales are regulated in Thailand but banned in a Louisiana parish.

References

"Inside the Academic-Freedom Crisis That Roiled Florida’s Flagship", Sept 6 2022, The Chronicle. https://www.chronicle.com/article/inside-the-academic-freedom-crisis-that-roiled-floridas-flagship
"Kratom is the latest unregulated substance concerning Pennsylvania lawmakers", Sept 6 2022, Reading Eagle. https://www.readingeagle.com/2022/09/06/kratom-is-the-latest-unregulated-substance-concerning-pennsylvania-lawmakers/
"Language Regulating Processors Stripped in Pennsylvania Kratom Consumer Protection Bill; Only Prevents Sales to Minors", June 21 2022, Kratom Science https://www.kratomscience.com/2022/06/21/language-regulating-processors-stripped-in-pennsylvania-kratom-consumer-protection-bill-only-prevents-sales-to-minors/
"New law around Kratom plant comes into effect Thailand", Aug 28, 2022, The Thaiger, https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/drugs/new-law-around-kratom-plant-goes-into-effect-thailand
"Kratom Science Podcast #66: Pascal Tanguay, Drug Policy/Harm Reduction Expert talks Kratom, WHO", Dec 2 2021, Kratom Science, https://www.kratomscience.com/podcast/66-pascal-tanguay-drug-policy-expert-talks-about-kratom-in-thailand/
"Setbacks arise in effort to protect consumer market for kratom", Aug 24 2022, Natural Products Insider, https://www.naturalproductsinsider.com/herbs-botanicals/setbacks-arise-effort-protect-consumer-market-kratom
"Kratom Science Podcast #78: Journalist Anthony Roberts: Working on A Leaf of Faith, FOIA’ing the DEA and FDA, and Kratom as NDI" https://www.kratomscience.com/podcast/78-journalist-anthony-roberts-working-on-a-leaf-of-faith-foiaing-the-dea-and-fda-and-kratom-as-ndi/
"Kratom, an herbal extract, is raising addiction fears. Ascension is the 1st parish to ban it", Aug 19 2022, The Advocate, https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/crime_police/article_1a466bc6-1fc3-11ed-9054-4fb52e8d0d23.html
"Ascension Parish Council votes to ban the sale of controversial product kratom", Aug 22 2022, WAFB9, https://www.wafb.com/2022/08/23/ascension-parish-council-votes-ban-sale-controversial-product-kratom/

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87. Kratom News for August 2022

Kratom Science — Thu, 11 Aug 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Kailee joins Brian for this month's kratom news. Florida Drug Policy Council considers a kratom ban in the state. A Florida car accident involving a passed out man with a needle in his pocket is blamed on kratom. Big cannabis news: Bill for federal decriminalization of cannabis introduced. WNBA athlete Brittney Griner sentenced to 9 years in Russia for 0.7 grams of vape oil. Study finds association between more potent weed and CUD. DEA sued for access to psychedelics for terminal patients.

References
"Drug Policy Council Considers Kratom Ban" https://thefloridachannel.org/videos/capitol-update-extended-drug-policy-council-considers-kratom-ban/
"Police: Kids jump from moving car in Cape Coral, man driving found unconscious" https://www.winknews.com/2022/07/19/police-kids-jump-from-moving-car-in-cape-coral-man-driving-found-unconscious/
Follow up to previous story: "New bodycam footage from unconscious father crash in Cape Coral" https://www.winknews.com/2022/08/04/new-bodycam-footage-from-unconscious-father-crash-in-cape-coral/
"Bill introduced to Federally Legalize Cannabis in the USA" ..…https://www.kratomscience.com/2022/07/27/bill-introduced-to-federally-legalize-cannabis-in-the-usa/
"Biden: U.S. Won’t Rest Until Brittney Griner Returned Home To Serve Marijuana Possession Sentence" [SATIRE] https://www.theonion.com/biden-u-s-won-t-rest-until-brittney-griner-returned-h-1849373440
"Another American Caught With Weed in Russia Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison" ...https://hightimes.com/news/another-american-caught-with-weed-in-russia-sentenced-to-14-years-in-prison/
"Kratom in Russia" https://www.kratomscience.eu/2022/01/27/kratom-in-russia/
"New hope for Brittney Griner prisoner exchange" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ermU19K1fBw
Levinson L. (2008). Half a gram--a thousand lives. Harm reduction journal, 5, 22. https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7517-5-22
"Highly potent weed creating marijuana addicts worldwide, study says" https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/25/health/marijuana-potency-addiction-study-wellness/index.html
Petrilli, K., Ofori, S., Hines, L., Taylor, G., Adams, S., & Freeman, T. P. (2022). Association of cannabis potency with mental ill health and addiction: a systematic review. The lancet. Psychiatry, S2215-0366(22)00161-4. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(22)00161-4
"DEA Sued Again Over Refusal To Allow Psilocybin Access For Patients Despite Federal Law" …https://www.marijuanamoment.net/dea-sued-again-over-refusal-to-allow-psilocybin-access-for-patients-despite-federal-law/

86. Dr. Walt Prozialeck Returns to talk about Lead (Pb) in Kratom

Kratom Science — Thu, 04 Aug 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Walt Prozialeck returns to discuss his new article published in the journal Toxics, “Public Health Implications and Possible Sources of Lead (Pb) as a Contaminant of Poorly Regulated Kratom Products in the United States”. We talk about the dangers of high levels of Pb exposure, how even moderate doses in some products can cause toxicity over time, how Pb can compound in levels commonly found in some foods, how this effects children and pregnant people, where the Pb is coming from, how side effects in some case reports listed as "kratom-induced" are very similar to side-effects of lead toxicity, and how proper regulation and further research can help prevent this.

References

"Possible causes of kratom-related liver toxicities and deaths" https://www.kratomscience.com/2022/07/19/possible-causes-of-kratom-related-liver-toxicities-and-deaths/
Prozialeck, W., Fowler, A., & Edwards, J. (2022). Public Health Implications and Possible Sources of Lead (Pb) as a Contaminant of Poorly Regulated Kratom Products in the United States. Toxics, 10(7), 398. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics10070398

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85. Kratom News, July 2022

Kratom Science — Thu, 14 Jul 2022 18:47:39 +0000

Kailee joins Brian to discuss the latest in kratom legal, international, and science news for July 2022.

Articles discussed in this episode:

PA House passes bill banning sale of Kratom to minors https://www.wkbn.com/news/pennsylvania/pa-house-passes-bill-banning-sale-of-kratom-to-minors/
Online kratom sales okayed by [Thailand’s] House https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2337463/online-kratom-sales-okayed-by-house
Buddhist monks banned from using cannabis, except as medicine https://www.nationmultimedia.com/in-focus/40017260
“Kratom use as more than a self-treatment” https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/BWUQUPBFTI2DKR2MKNDC/full?target=10.1080/00952990.2022.2083967 House Committee Leaders Tackle Marijuana Research, Kratom, Impaired Driving And More In New Spending Measures…https://www.marijuanamoment.net/house-committee-leaders-tackle-marijuana-research-kratom-impaired-driving-and-more-in-new-spending-measures/…

84. Kratom Vendors’ Association Founder Stacey Lloyd

Kratom Science — Thu, 02 Jun 2022 15:16:57 +0000

Stacey Lloyd is a microbiologist and GMP complaince specialist. She founded the Kratom Vendors Association to help kratom vendors comply with Good Manufacturing Practices. In an unregulated kratom world, the need for quality control for a psychoactive substance is essential for the future of a legal, regulated, and legitimate kratom market.

We talk about what vendors can expect with a membership in the Kratom Vendors Association, what it takes to be GMP complaint, and why quality control is so important for companies selling a consumable product.

https://www.kratomvendorsassociation.com/ @kratomva

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83. Quality Compliance Expert Jennifer Bruce on Kratom Vendors and GMP

Kratom Science — Thu, 19 May 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Jennifer Bruce has "20+ years of industry experience in establishing and implementing quality systems for drugs, OTCs, biologics, dietary supplements and cosmetics from early phase development through commercialization" (from her LinkedIn). She became disillusioned with the pharmaceutical industry, and in 2019 discovered the need for quality assurance in the kratom industry. We talk about why it's important for kratom vendors to follow Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), how vendors could be shut down by the FDA, why all of this vital to both the quality of the kratom products and the health of the customers who consume them, and why the future is going to a require a market where all vendors follow these procedures. We also talk about Jennifer's own experience with naturopathic/holistic wellness, pharmaceuticals vs. "natural" products, and her experience working for pharmaceutical corporations vs. small kratom and other botanical businesses.

Jennifer Bruce is an independent consultant who works with kratom vendors. Contact her on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-bruce-47a11511/

82. Jakub Zientala of the European Kratom Alliance

Kratom Science — Thu, 05 May 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Jakub Zientala, originally from Poland and residing in the Netherlands, calls himself a European at heart and soul. He holds degrees in European and International Law and public policy, and he curently serves as EU and Government relations manager for the newly formed European Kratom Alliance. Kratom is already banned in many major European countries such as the United Kingdom, France, and Italy. Where kratom is legal, it exists mostly in a grey market where kratom can only be sold with the label "Not for human consumption". The EKA exists to fight for Europeans’ right to consume kratom safely.

European Kratom Alliance is at https://eka.eu/
Donate via Paypal to contact@eka.eu
See https://www.kratomscience.eu/ for current events, legality, and information about kratom in Europe

81. Dr. Kirsten Smith of NIDA Returns

Kratom Science — Thu, 21 Apr 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Dr. Kirsten Smith of National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) joins us once again to talk about an upcoming comprehensive study that will include a detailed nationwide survey, testing of kratom samples, and testing select individual kratom consumers. We also cover several papers that Dr. Smith led or co-authored that have been published since her last appearance in summer of 2021 (Episode 55), addiction vs. dependence, dose escalation, and the role of extracts, kratom consumer demographics, a guide on kratom to educate healthcare providers, kratom as an alcohol replacement, an is kratom a gateway drug into opioids?

References from Episode 81

NIDA's kratom page https://nida.nih.gov/drug-topics/kratom
Smith, K. E., Dunn, K. E., Grundmann, O., Garcia-Romeu, A., Rogers, J. M., Swogger, M. T., & Epstein, D. H. (2021). Social, psychological, and substance use characteristics of U.S. adults who use kratom: Initial findings from an online, crowdsourced study. Experimental and clinical psychopharmacology, 10.1037/pha0000518. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/pha0000518
Smith, K. E., Dunn, K. E., Rogers, J. M., Garcia-Romeu, A., Strickland, J. C., & Epstein, D. H. (2022). Assessment of Kratom Use Disorder and Withdrawal Among an Online Convenience Sample of US Adults. Journal of addiction medicine, 10.1097/ADM.0000000000000986. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1097/ADM.0000000000000986
Smith, K. E., Rogers, J. M., Dunn, K. E., Grundmann, O., McCurdy, C. R., Schriefer, D., & Epstein, D. H. (2022). Searching for a Signal: Self-Reported Kratom Dose-Effect Relationships Among a Sample of US Adults With Regular Kratom Use Histories. Frontiers in pharmacology, 13, 765917. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.765917
Smith, K. E., Rogers, J. M., Schriefer, D., & Grundmann, O. (2021). Therapeutic benefit with caveats?: Analyzing social media data to understand the complexities of kratom use. Drug and alcohol dependence, 226, 108879. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.108879
Smith, K. E., Rogers, J. M., & Strickland, J. C. (2021). Associations of Lifetime Nonmedical Opioid, Methamphetamine, and Kratom Use within a Nationally Representative US Sample. Journal of psychoactive drugs, 1–11. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2021.2006374
Swogger, M. T., Smith, K. E., Garcia-Romeu, A., Grundmann, O., Veltri, C. A., Henningfield, J. E., & Busch, L. Y. (2022). Understanding Kratom Use: A Guide for Healthcare Providers. Frontiers in pharmacology, 13, 801855. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.801855

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80. Everything Kratom Podcast Host Jamie

Kratom Science — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Jamie is the host of Everything Kratom Podcast that started in the fall of 2021. The podcast features shorter episodes about different strains of kratom and Jamie's thoughts on kratom related issues, but also longer episodes with conversations with guests. We talk about why he started the podcast, why there should be more podcasts with our own unique formats, kratom deaths and mourning parents, his own brothers opioid addiction and terrible death, how kratom helped him deal with mild Tourette's Syndrome and helps with motivation, and why he thinks kratom and blue lotus are like peanut butter and jelly.

Listen to the Everything Kratom Podcast anchor.fm/everything-kratom

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79. Writer Morgan Godvin on Kratom and Life After Incarceration

Kratom Science — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Morgan Godvin was a heroin user for five years before being convicted and sentenced to five years in prison on federal "delivery resulting in death" charges after a close friend died of an overdose. Morgan began writing in prison and published her first piece while still behind bars. Upon being released to a halfway house in 2018, she enrolled in university, and graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2021. Morgan now serves as engagement editor for JSTOR Daily's American Prison Newspapers. She serves on the boards of Oregon’s Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission, the Measure 110 Oversight and Accountability Council, and the Multnomah County Local Public Safety Coordinating Council. She also works with the Bard Prison Initiative, Health in Justice Action Lab, and Beats Overdose. As a freelance writer she's been published in The Washington Post, The Oregonian, and Vice.

In March 2022, Morgan published a piece for Filter called "Kratom Helps Me Cope With Life, So What’s the Problem?" We talk about why she kept her kratom consumption a secret, tolerance and dependency, how she keeps a disciplined routine, and how kratom helps her cope with anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation that began in childhood.

"Kratom Helps Me Cope With Life, So What’s the Problem?" Filter, 3/10/22 https://filtermag.org/kratom-mental-health-opioids/
morgangodvin.com
Morgan Godvin's Linktree https://linktr.ee/morgangodvin

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78. Journalist Anthony Roberts: Working on A Leaf of Faith, FOIA’ing the DEA and FDA, and Kratom as NDI

Kratom Science — Thu, 24 Mar 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Anthony Roberts is a journalist, author of two books on steroids, and and an expert in the field of performance enhancing drugs, dietary supplements, and physical training. He researched interview subjects for the 2018 Chris Bell documentary A Leaf of Faith. We talk about making the movie, grieving parents who target drugs for banning, what he found on former kratom opponent Daniel Fabricant while researching for the movie, the kratom import alert, kratom and New Dietary Ingredient status, why the Natural Products Association wanted to ban kratom, and the documents he dug up on kratom from the FDA and DEA using the Freedom of Information Act.

References, all by Anthony Roberts

Article on Daniel Fabricant: “Charged with boosting health supplements, ex-FDA and current natural products executive has long history of harassment and discrimination complaints” https://www.muckrock.com/news/archives/2018/may/09/fabricant-fda-natural-products-association/
FDA: All communications regarding Kratom with The Natural Products Association https://www.muckrock.com/foi/united-states-of-america-10/fda-all-communications-regarding-kratom-with-the-natural-products-association-30404/
“DEA refuses to release evidence backing Kratom ban” https://www.muckrock.com/news/archives/2016/dec/05/dea-kratom-foia-refuse/
DEA FOIA documents https://www.muckrock.com/foi/united-states-of-america-10/dea-kratom-mitragynine-and-7-hydroxymitragynine-schedule-1-documents-27979/#file-109094
Flawed Case Report on kratom https://www.muckrock.com/news/archives/2017/jan/30/national-institute-health-study-dangers-kratom-ref/

Kratom Science is on Facebook.com/kratomscience and Twitter @kratomscience Music: Risey, “Memories of Thailand” Kratom Science Podcast is produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com So far we don’t do advertising or ask for donations, but please support the Kratom Science Podcast and Like, Subscribe, Share, Rate, Review, and Comment wherever you listen to podcasts. Thank you! Disclaimer: None of the content on this or any episode of Kratom Science Podcast, Kratom Science Journal Club, or on any of the pages of KratomScience.com constitutes or should be considered medical claims or medical advice.

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77. Susan Ash, Founder of the American Kratom Association, Part 2

Kratom Science — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 09:00:00 +0000

UPDATE: INTRO ADDED.we wanted to clarify that we support the AKA's lobbying efforts. In Part 2 (see Episode 76 for Part 1), discuss Susan Ash's exit from the AKA, the motivations behind it, and her response to the allegations against her. We'll also get into the importance of a media campaign in expanding kratom knowledge, what happened to the other kratom organizations, what Indonesian kratom farmers are facing, why everyone should lobby your representatives and engage with media without asking, and how to do it properly.

References:

americankratom.org/donate
Kratom Lobbying Guide https://www.kratomscience.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Kratom-Lobby-Guide.docx
Article on accusations by other AKA members against Susan Ash of financial impropriety https://www.painnewsnetwork.org/stories/2017/10/9/kratom-non-profit-wants-missing-financial-records
American Kratom Association form 990 from 2017 https://www.kratomscience.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/2017-472208981-0f304653-9O.pdf
Courthouse News article "The Law and the Profits: Inside Kratom's Political Underbelly" https://www.courthousenews.com/the-law-and-the-profits-inside-kratoms-political-underbelly/

Kratom Science is on Facebook.com/kratomscience and Twitter @kratomscience Music: Risey, "Memories of Thailand" Kratom Science Podcast is written and produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com So far we don't do advertising or ask for donations, but please support the Kratom Science Podcast and Like, Subscribe, Share, Rate, Review, and Comment wherever you listen to podcasts. Thank you! Disclaimer: None of the content on this or any episode of Kratom Science Podcast, Kratom Science Journal Club, or on any of the pages of KratomScience.com constitutes or should be considered medical claims or medical advice.

76. Susan Ash, Founder of the American Kratom Association, Part 1

Kratom Science — Thu, 10 Mar 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Susan Ash discovered kratom in 2010 after suffering from the effects of Lyme Disease, which she believes she contracted spending years in the forest as part of her education in environmental and forest preservation work. A few years later, it was apparent kratom consumers needed an advocacy organization as some states had banned the plant based on its association with new synthetic drugs. Along with her colleagues Paul Kemp and Sebastian Guthery, she started the American Kratom Association. In 2016, the nonprofit organization grew exponentially, and led thousands of citizens to push back on the Drug Enforcement Administration, who would reverse its decision to ban the plant. The following year, Susan Ash would be ousted from the organization she had founded.

In part one, we talk about Susan's background, what led her to kratom, how the AKA was formed, and what led up to the historic day in 2016 when the DEA for the first time reversed its decision to ban a substance.

In part 2 (episode 77), we'll discuss her exit from the AKA, the motivations behind it, and her response to years old allegations against her. We'll also get into the importance of a media campaign in expanding kratom knowledge, what it takes to lobby your representatives, what Indonesian kratom farmers are facing, and what Susan Ash has in store for the future

Susan's appearance on "The Doctors" can be seen here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqNetM7OWj0&t=333s

75. Founder of “Never Use Alone” Mike Brown

Kratom Science — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 10:00:00 +0000

"NO JUDGEMENT, NO SHAMING, NO PREACHING, JUST LOVE! (800) 484-3731 If you are going to use by yourself, call us! You will be asked for your first name, location, and the number you are calling from. An operator will stay on the line with you while you use. If you stop responding after using, the operator will notify emergency services of an \"unresponsive person\" at your location."

- From neverusealone.com

Mike Brown has been working in harm reduction for much of his career. He is a former IV heroin user, and founder of Never Use Alone, a hotline people who are using drugs can call if they are worried about overdosing. We talk about Mike's experience with kratom and why the people who told him "You can't get withdrawals from it" were wrong, what's wrong with 12-step programs, why harm reduction works better than abstinence, and why the war on drugs is doing more damage than healing.

NeverUseAlone.com https://nextdistro.org/policies - Laws relating to Good Samaritan, Syringe, and Naloxone by state

74. State Kratom Legislation Update 2022

Kratom Science — Thu, 17 Feb 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Please refer to this post on the latest information (as of 2/15/2022 on all the state kratom bills. https://www.kratomscience.com/2022/02/07/february-2022-update-on-state-kratom-bills-whos-regulating-whos-banning/

Please contact your state representatives using this link https://myreps.datamade.us/

Updates on state bills in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

73. Working with ENCOD and 14 years of Successful Kratom Use with Baylen Greever

Kratom Science — Thu, 10 Feb 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Baylen Greever grew up in Memphis, Tennessee. His family moved to Belgium during his high school years. He later got involved with the European Coalition for Just and Effective Drug Policy (ENCOD) and introduced kratom to its founder, the late Joep Ooman. Baylen worked in particular with Friends of the Coca Leaf, to provide education and advocate for policy about coca in plant for (vs. the extract, cocaine). He went with the group to New York to protest outside a UN conference on drug policy where he handed out coca leaves with Bolivian nationals. Baylen now lives in Washington state, where he continues to grow and consume kratom responsibly while living an active lifestyle.

72. Plant Medicine and Spondylosis w/ Brandon Belgard

Kratom Science — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Brandon Belgard is a plumber from California who began to have back problems after sports injuries and car accidents as a young man. Later he was diagnosed with a degenerative spinal disease called spondylosis. After using prescription opioids for a period of time he discovered kratom which he's been using for the past five years. We also talk about other medicinal herbs that Brandon employs in his wellness routine: corydalis, akuamma, chuchuhuasi, incarvilea sinensis and two plants related to kratom called mitragyna hirsuta and mitragyna javanica. Brandon also talks about his experience with mescaline and other psychedelics.

Brandon is a moderator on the I Love Kratom forum at https://ilk.co/

Study referenced in this episode: Metastasio, A., Prevete, E., Singh, D., Grundmann, O., Prozialeck, W. C., Veltri, C., Bersani, G., & Corazza, O. (2020). Can Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) Alleviate COVID-19 Pain? A Case Study. Frontiers in psychiatry, 11, 594816. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.594816 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.594816/full

Music: Risey, "Memories of Thailand" The Kratom Science Podcast is written and produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com Disclaimer: None of the contents of this or any episode of the Kratom Science Podcast, Kratom Science Journalist, or any of the content on KratomScience.com is intended or should be taken as medical claims or medical advice. Please consult a medical professional and be safe.

71. Marcelle Morfin on Chronic Pain and Kratom Advocacy

Kratom Science — Thu, 20 Jan 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Marcelle Morfin got a back injury while serving in the Army in 2006, and that was the beginning of her chronic pain journey. She was later diagnosed with degenerative disk disease, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, IBS, and cervical stenosis with myelopathy. She had been prescribed opioid pain medication, but had an aversion to taking pills. In 2017, after contemplating suicide, she discovered kratom which she calls a huge blessing.

After this episode posted, Marcelle reached out and wanted to clarify two things: "At the ER they gave me Toradol not tramadol. The first is an anti-inflammatory, the one I said is a narcotic...I actually was in tramadol in 2011 for a short while." "I should have clarified that I was only in the Army a little over 4 years. You have to have done at least 20 years or be totally disabled in order to get to be medically retired."

Music: Risey, "Memories of Thailand" Kratom Science Podcast is written and produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com

Disclaimer: None of the content of this or any episode of the Kratom Science Podcast, Kratom Science Journal Club, or KratomScience.com are intended or should be taken as medical claims or medical. Please see a medical professional. Be safe: less is more.

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70. Shawn Wenzel on Living with Degenerative Disk Disease

Kratom Science — Thu, 13 Jan 2022 10:00:00 +0000

My guest from Denver Colorado was diagnosed with degenerative disk disease and lives with severe chronic pain. Unable to receive adequate pain management, she found kratom, uses it in moderate amounts, and it works for her. This Shawn Wenzel and this is her kratom story.

Disclaimer: None of the content in this or any episode of the Kratom Science Podcast, Kratom Science Journal Club, nor on any page of KratomScience.com is intended or should be considered as medical claims or medical advice. Please consult a medical professional before considering kratom. Less is more. Be safe.

This episode does NOT contain paid advertisements Music: Risey, "Memories of Thailand" The Kratom Science Podcast is written and produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com

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69. Dr. Christopher McCurdy and Dr. Brian Pearson on the Future of Kratom

Kratom Science — Thu, 06 Jan 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Dr. Chris McCurdy is a medicinal chemist who has done groundbreaking research on kratom since 2004, starting at the University of Mississippi. In 2017 Dr. McCurdy moved to the University of Florida College of Pharmacy where he continues his research today with an expert team of pharmacologists, unlocking the function of kratom's many alkaloids and how they interact with our metabolism and brains. Dr. Brian Pearson is a horticulturalist, also at University of Florida, who studies kratom and other medicinal plants, as well as food, landscape, and ornamental plants. Dr. McCurdy talks about his venture into kratom science. Dr. Pearson talks about the mother plant at UF, what alkaloids do for the plant, alkaloid consistency and whether it's regional or varying from individual tree to tree, possible standardization for a domestic kratom market, future alkaloid standards for kratom products, 7-hydroxymitragynine alone vs. the symphony orchestra of kratom alkaloids, why oxidized alkaloids may be generally harmful, and why the dietary supplements industry in general carries great risks for adulterants, and why drug development does not mean restricting the availability of the kratom product. We talk about the pathway forward to a future of kratom as a plant that can help people and make the world a better place.

Music: Risey "Memories of Thailand" The Kratom Science Podcast is written and produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com None of the content on this or any episode of the Kratom Science Podcast is intended as medical claims or medical advice.

References

Babu, K. M., McCurdy, C. R., & Boyer, E. W. (2008). Opioid receptors and legal highs: Salvia divinorum and Kratom. Clinical toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.), 46(2), 146–152. https://doi.org/10.1080/15563650701241795
Chear, N. J., León, F., Sharma, A., Kanumuri, S., Zwolinski, G., Abboud, K. A., Singh, D., Restrepo, L. F., Patel, A., Hiranita, T., Ramanathan, S., Hampson, A. J., McMahon, L. R., & McCurdy, C. R. (2021). Exploring the Chemistry of Alkaloids from Malaysian Mitragyna speciosa (Kratom) and the Role of Oxindoles on Human Opioid Receptors. Journal of natural products, 84(4), 1034–1043. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jnatprod.0c01055
León, F., Habib, E., Adkins, J. E., Furr, E. B., McCurdy, C. R., & Cutler, S. J. (2009). Phytochemical characterization of the leaves of Mitragyna speciosa grown in U.S.A. Natural product communications, 4(7), 907–910.
Lydecker, A. G., Sharma, A., McCurdy, C. R., Avery, B. A., Babu, K. M., & Boyer, E. W. (2016). Suspected Adulteration of Commercial Kratom Products with 7-Hydroxymitragynine. Journal of medical toxicology : official journal of the American College of Medical Toxicology, 12(4), 341–349. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13181-016-0588-y
Macko, E., Weisbach, J. A., & Douglas, B. (1972). Some observations on the pharmacology of mitragynine. Archives internationales de pharmacodynamie et de therapie, 198(1), 145–161.
McCurdy, C. R., & Scully, S. S. (2005). Analgesic substances derived from natural products (natureceuticals). Life sciences, 78(5), 476–484. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lfs.2005.09.006
McCurdy, C. R., Sufka, K. J., Smith, G. H., Warnick, J. E., & Nieto, M. J. (2006). Antinociceptive profile of salvinorin A, a structurally unique kappa opioid receptor agonist. Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior, 83(1), 109–113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbb.2005.12.011
Roth, B. L., Baner, K., Westkaemper, R., Siebert, D., Rice, K. C., Steinberg, S., Ernsberger, P., & Rothman, R. B. (2002). Salvinorin A: a potent naturally occurring nonnitrogenous kappa opioid selective agonist. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 99(18), 11934–11939. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.182234399
Zhang, M., Sharma, A., León, F., Avery, B., Kjelgren, R., McCurdy, C. R., & Pearson, B. J. (2020). Effects of Nutrient Fertility on Growth and Alkaloidal Content in Mitragyna speciosa (Kratom). Frontiers in plant science, 11, 597696. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.597696

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68. Dirk Netter, Author of Kratom: Ethnobotany, Application, and Culture

Kratom Science — Thu, 16 Dec 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Dirk Netter from Germany is the author of one of the only German language books on kratom called Kratom: Ethnobotany, Application, and Culture. As a student at Phillips University in Marburg, Germany he formed the Student Association for Interdisciplinary Psychedelic Research. Dirk Netter has active in the formation of a European kratom alliance to advocate for legality and sensible policy in Europe. We talk about the traditional use and the first European colonialists who classified kratom, safe use, smoking kratom paste (not recommended0, Dirk's debate with the Cleveland Clinic who claimed kratom has "caused death", the WHO decision not to schedule kratom, and more.

Kratom: Ethnobotanik, Anwendung, Kultur (in German) available here https://nachtschatten.ch/produkt/kratom/
Dirk Netter on Twitter https://twitter.com/DirkNetter
Dirk's rebuttal thread to Cleveland Clinic article claiming kratom has caused deaths https://twitter.com/DirkNetter/status/1411432707138195456
Lucy's Rausch, German drug culture magazine https://lucys-magazin.com/
The writings of Claude Rifat http://www.shaman-australis.com/~claude/index.html

Music: Risey, "Memories of Thailand" Twitter.com/kratomscience Facebook.com/KratomScience The Kratom Science Podcast is written and produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com

Disclaimer: None of the content in this or any episode of Kratom Science Podcast, Kratom Science Journal Club, nor on any page of KratomScience.com is intended or should be taken as medical claims or medical advice.

67. Martial Arts/Boxing Trainer Dru Clay on Athlete Psychology, Dealing with Pain, and Safe Use

Kratom Science — Thu, 09 Dec 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Dru Clay, named after legendary comic Andrew "Dice" Clay, grew up in a rough area of Modesto, California. That necessitated a need for self protection, that Dru ound in martial arts. Dru competed in tournaments growing up, studied sports medicine and psychology, and became a boxing trainer. Because of the constant physical pain endured by athletes, Dru saw the prevalence of drug use, especially in combat sports like MMA, boxing, and pro-wrestling. About ten years ago, Dru discovered kratom, which he found more manageable than opioid pain medication, and he includes as part of a healthy lifestyle.

Dru Clay works for MitraSpec https://www.mitraspec.com (<--not a paid advertisement) Kratom Science is on Facebook.com/kratomscience and Twitter @kratomscience Music: Risey, "Memories of Thailand" Kratom Science Podcast is written and produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com So far we don't do advertising or ask for donations, but please support the Kratom Science Podcast and Like, Subscribe, Rate, Review, Comment wherever you listen to podcasts, and most importantly please share this on your social media! Ignore the propaganda, follow the science! Disclaimer: None of the content on this or any episode of Kratom Science Podcast, Kratom Science Journal Club, or on any of the pages of KratomScience.com constitutes medical claims or medical advice.

66. Pascal Tanguay, Drug Policy Expert Talks About Kratom in Thailand

Kratom Science — Thu, 02 Dec 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Kratom Science is very grateful to bring you this interview with Pascal Tanguay. For 20 years, Pascal has been working on harm reduction policies in Southeast Asia and in Thailand where he lives. Pascal is a bottomless well of knowledge on the history of drug policy and kratom. He's worked with the International Drug Policy Consortium and Asian Harm Reduction Network and as a private consultant. We talk about all that, the World Health Organization's stance on kratom, Thailand's recent decriminalisation of kratom, consumer protection laws in the US, and more.

Articles referenced in this episode:

Charoenratana, S., Anukul, C., & Aramrattana, A. (2021). Attitudes towards Kratom use, decriminalization and the development of a community-based Kratom control mechanism in Southern Thailand. The International journal on drug policy, 95, 103197. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103197 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0955395921000955#bib0028
Jelsma, M. (2021, October 11). Kratom: the creation of a threat: A policy commentary on the WHO pre-review of kratom. Transnational Institute. https://www.tni.org/en/publication/kratom-the-creation-of-a-threat
Tanguay, P. (2018, July). Assessing the applicability of decriminalization in Thailand. http://fileserver.idpc.net/library/Tanguay_Assessing_Applicability_of_Decriminalization_in_Thailand.pdf
Tanguay, P. (2021, May 13). Can medical cannabis in Thailand balance profits and patients? EASTASIAFORUM. https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2021/05/13/can-medical-cannabis-in-thailand-balance-profits-and-patients/

Music: Risey "Memories of Thailand" Twitter @kratomscience facebook.com/kratomscience Kratom Science Podcast is written and produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com

Disclaimer: None of the content in this or any episode of the Kratom Science Podcast, Kratom Science Journal Club, or on any page of KratomScience.com consists of medical claims or medical advice.

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65. Claudia Merandi, Pain Patient Advocate and Author

Kratom Science — Thu, 18 Nov 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Hulu's final episode of Dopesick aired yesterday. "I cancelled my Hulu account," says my guest, Claudia Merandi. "I called it Dopesickening. Hollywood had to profit off the pain community... I refuse to watch."

Claudia Merandi has suffered from Chrohn's disease since she was a child, as documented in her book Crohn's: The Other 'C' Word: Crohn's Disease, Court Reporting, and Custody Battles and her children's book Dotty on the Potty. It wasn't until she was an adult that the condition became so painful that she needed medication. After years of safely and responsibly taking opioid pain medication for Crohn's, only in the last decade was Claudia labeled "drug seeking" and had trouble receiving adequate pain medication.

As a response to what has been labelled an "opioid crisis", the CDC released opioid prescribing guidelines in 2016. Soon the DEA got involved in the name of busting "pill mills", but instead, responsible doctors were regarded as pill pushers and treated like criminals for caring for pain patients. Groups like Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing (PROP) have created an industry for themselves as experts in this new front in the War on Drugs. Chronic pain patients, the elderly, terminal cancer patients, and others are now being routinely refused medication all over the country and in Canada. Some turned to kratom, others turned to suicide.

"I don't fight like other advocates," says Claudia. "I don't stop until I hit bone... We've been put in this horrible situation, and the pain patients have been too nice. It's time to fight fire with fire."

Claudia's links:

https://www.thedoctorpatientforum.com/ The Doctor Patient Forum, lots of great info, "here to advocate, educate, and defend the rights of patients; to protect all providers, who tirelessly work to treat their patients, and to bring awareness to the general public regarding restrictions upon medical providers."
https://dontpunishpainrally.com/ Don't Punish Pain Rally - stay aware of the latest news and events in the fight to defend pain patients
https://www.instagram.com/cmerandi2/
https://twitter.com/CMerandi
https://www.amazon.com/Crohns-Disease-Reporting-Custody-Battles/dp/1979960941/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=claudia+merandi&qid=1637193088&sr=8-1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07ZC68XKM/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i0

NPR's 1A episode with previous Kratom Science Podcast guest Maia Szalavitz discussing NARXCARE (mentioned by Claudia) https://the1a.org/segments/against-the-pain-the-opioid-crisis-and-medication-access/

Music: Risey, "Memories of Thailand" The Kratom Science Podcast is written and produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com

Disclaimer: None of the content of the Kratom Science Podcast, Kratom Science Journal Club, or KratomScience.com consists of medical claims or medical advice.

64. Veterans Day Special: A Look Back on Four Veterans Who Told Us Their Kratom Stories

Kratom Science — Thu, 11 Nov 2021 10:00:00 +0000

November 11, 2021 is Veterans Day! We take a look back at four veterans of the United States military who had a kratom story to share.

From episode #13, Drew Turner is a US Navy veteran who served in Iraq and Guantanamo Bay. He appeared in the kratom documentary A Leaf of Faith. Drew discusses his injury inflicted by a prisoner at Guantanamo Bay, Meige syndrome, and cancer that may have been due to his exposure to burn pits. After trying various treatments, kratom became a tool in his wellness toolbox.

From episode #54, Afghanistan combat veteran Jaclyn O'Shea discusses both her and her husbands service at war and his subsequent PTSD and suicide. After a period of alcoholism, Jaclyn found kratom to be a tool to help her stay sober and focused on her new life as a veterinarian.

From episode #20, Jennifer Van Blunk's lifelong dream of a career in the military was cut short due to an injury. This led to a decade of healing her physical and emotional pain with illicit opioids. She found the ability to put her life back on track with help from kratom, micro-dosing psilocybin, and meditation.

From episode #16, Andy Knowles had an 15 year career in the Navy that he loved, but that didn't keep him from struggling from depression and anxiety. After trying to seek help, he found that kratom helped him better than anything else. Unbeknownst to Andy and despite being a legal substance, sailors are prohibited from the use of kratom. After being ratted out by a jealous ex, Andy was fired from his long-term career and left to support his family.

To all who have served in the armed forces: Happy Veterans Day! We appreciate you!

Music: Risey, "Memories of Thailand" Acoustic guitar intervals: Brian Gallagher Kratom Science Podcast is written and produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com

Disclaimer: None of the content of the Kratom Science Podcast, Kratom Science Journal Club, or KratomScience.com constitutes medical claims or medical advice.

63. Chewing Kratom Leaves with Soren Shade

Kratom Science — Thu, 04 Nov 2021 09:00:00 +0000

Soren Shade visits Brian in Pittsburgh bearing gifts: mature kratom leaves and a kratom plant the Top Tree Herbs greenhouse in West Virginia. This is the 2nd time the Hamilton's Pharmacopeia producer and kratom entrepreneur has been on the podcast - the first time being #47. Brian chews kratom for the first time, and we talk about the possibility of homegrown kratom in the USA, working with labs and scientists on measuring kratom alkaloids and their effects, the ongoing survey in cooperation with University of Florida scientist Dr. Oliver Grundmann, the Instapot method of making fresh leaf kratom tea, the puritanical strain in America that led to prohibition, "enjoyment optimization" vs. "harm reduction", kratom and the other substances on the WHO's watch list, why kratom's "PR" is so horrible, and Hamilton Morris's new podcast (produced by Soren).

Soren's company Top Tree Herbs https://toptreeherbs.com/ Sante Labs is studying kratom https://santelabs.com/ Check out "Clandestine Conversations with Hamilton Morris" on your favorite podcast platform or https://www.patreon.com/HamiltonMorris

Intro/Outro music: Risey "Memories of Thailand" Middle music: Circus Homunculus, "One Legged Equilibrist Polka" The Kratom Science Podcast is produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com Disclaimer: None of the content on Kratom Science Podcast, Kratom Science Journal Club, and KratomScience.com constitutes medical claims or medical advice.

62. Dr. Fabian Pitter Steinmetz, Toxicologist Who Testified at the WHO Hearing on Kratom

Kratom Science — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 09:00:00 +0000

Dr. Fabian Pitter Steinmetz is a senior toxicologist from Germany and an outspoken advocate for harm reduction and science-based, rational drug policy. On October 11, 2021, representing the European Coalition for Just and Effective Drug Policies, Dr. Steinmetz testified against kratom prohibition for the World Health Organization's 44th Expert Committee on Drug Dependence . Dr. Steinmetz proposes three categories of a sensible drug policy, and we talk about why a history of safe use examined by social science is as important as pharmacological science, the importance of education about responsible use, the toxicology of kratom as compared to black tea, extracts vs. the natural plant, the professional stigma that goes along with being outspoken about these issues, and why drug prohibition causes more harm than the drugs themselves.

Dr. Steinmetz's testimony at the WHO's ECDD https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhLoxXW1db4 Follow Dr. Fabian Pitter Steinmetz https://twitter.com/docsteinmetz Read Dr. Steinmetz' paper on harm reduction and cocaine e-cigarettes: Steinmetz, F. P., & Stöver, H. (2021). The cocaine-e-cigarette – A theoretical concept of a harm reduction device for current users of smokable cocaine forms. Drug Science, Policy and Law. https://doi.org/10.1177/20503245211049310

Music: Risey, "Memories of Thailand" The Kratom Science Podcast is produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com

Disclaimer: None of the content on this or any episode of the Kratom Science Podcast, Kratom Science Journal Club, or any of the pages of Kratomscience.com should be considered as medical claims or medical advice.

61. Ethan Nadelmann, Drug Policy Alliance Founder and Host of “PSYCHOACTIVE”

Kratom Science — Thu, 23 Sep 2021 09:00:00 +0000

PSYCHOACTIVE with Ethan Nadelmann https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/psychoactive?selected=HSW1919502170 My guest is one of the major critics of the War on Drugs and an advocate for science-based harm reduction policy. He is founder of the Drug Policy Alliance, an organization that's been instrumental in marijuana legalization, and helped solicit comments for the 2016 fight to keep kratom legal, among other projects. Rolling Stone Magazine called him the "real drug czar". He has a new podcast about drugs called Psychoactive. It's an honor to have on our podcast Dr. Ethan Nadelmann.

Drug Policy Alliance https://drugpolicy.org/ "Ethan Nadelmann: The Real Drug Czar" profile in Rolling Stone https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/ethan-nadelmann-the-real-drug-czar-92837/ https://twitter.com/ethannadelmann Ethan Nadelmann's Ted Talk, "The Human Cost of the War on Drugs" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vq7cjlSnBQo

Music: Risey, "Memories of Thailand" The Kratom Science Podcast is written and produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com Disclaimer: There is no content on the Kratom Science Podcast nor on KratomScience.com that in any way constitutes medical claims or medical advice. You should consult a medical professional for medical advice. Take care.

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60. Mr. Boston on Surviving 3 Near Death Experiences, Chronic Pain, and Multiple Sclerosis

Kratom Science — Thu, 09 Sep 2021 09:00:00 +0000

Mr. Boston, who chooses to remain anonymous, was pushed out of a tree at the age of 13 where he got a slipped disk and went on a regimen of gradually stronger and stronger opioids. Living with chronic pain, he later developed an even more painful autoimmune disorder, which he says feels like being attacked with a chainsaw every day, as well as multiple sclerosis. On top of that, he had three near death experiences from overdoses of opioids including fentanyl and carfentanil. He discovered kratom which he says gets him through the day without the serious withdrawals and addiction that opioids gave him.

Disclaimer: There is no content on the Kratom Science Podcast nor on KratomScience.com that in any way constitutes medical claims or medical advice. You should consult a medical professional for medical advice and we believe this sincerely. Take care.

Music: Risey, "Memories of Thailand" Kratom Science Podcast is written and produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com

59. Dr. Lance McMahon, Chair of University of Florida College of Pharmacy Dept of Pharmacodynamics

Kratom Science — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 09:00:00 +0000

Dr. Lance McMahon is Chair of the Department of Pharmacodynamics at University of Florida College of Pharmacy, a college that has been at the forefront of kratom research. Dr. McMahon studies the mechanism of action of the multiple kratom alkaloids and how they function alone and in concert on our various brain receptors. His lab also studies the effects and mechanisms of action of cannabis, nicotine, and other substances.

We talk about the definition of pharmacodynamics, the "entourage effect" of alkaloids in the kratom plant vs. isolated alkaloids, the implications that 7-hydroxymitragyinine may not occur naturally in the plant, the metabolism of mitragynine and opioid effects, NIDA funding of kratom research, the FDA's position on respiratory depression, what the World Health Organization's upcoming decision on recommending kratom scheduling means for research, and how close researchers are to conducting clinical trials on kratom.

Lance McMahon's bio at UF https://pharmacy.ufl.edu/profile/mcmahon-lance/

Studies referenced in this podcast:

Kamble, S. H., Berthold, E. C., King, T. I., Raju Kanumuri, S. R., Popa, R., Herting, J. R., León, F., Sharma, A., McMahon, L. R., Avery, B. A., & McCurdy, C. R. (2021). Pharmacokinetics of Eleven Kratom Alkaloids Following an Oral Dose of Either Traditional or Commercial Kratom Products in Rats. Journal of natural products, 84(4), 1104–1112. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jnatprod.0c01163
Obeng, S., Kamble, S. H., Reeves, M. E., Restrepo, L. F., Patel, A., Behnke, M., Chear, N. J., Ramanathan, S., Sharma, A., León, F., Hiranita, T., Avery, B. A., McMahon, L. R., & McCurdy, C. R. (2020). Investigation of the Adrenergic and Opioid Binding Affinities, Metabolic Stability, Plasma Protein Binding Properties, and Functional Effects of Selected Indole-Based Kratom Alkaloids. Journal of medicinal chemistry, 63(1), 433–439. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b01465
Kamble, S. H., León, F., King, T. I., Berthold, E. C., Lopera-Londoño, C., Siva Rama Raju, K., Hampson, A. J., Sharma, A., Avery, B. A., McMahon, L. R., & McCurdy, C. R. (2020). Metabolism of a Kratom Alkaloid Metabolite in Human Plasma Increases Its Opioid Potency and Efficacy. ACS pharmacology & translational science, 3(6), 1063–1068. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsptsci.0c00075
Kamble, S. H., Sharma, A., King, T. I., Berthold, E. C., León, F., Meyer, P., Kanumuri, S., McMahon, L. R., McCurdy, C. R., & Avery, B. A. (2020). Exploration of cytochrome P450 inhibition mediated drug-drug interaction potential of kratom alkaloids. Toxicology letters, 319, 148–154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxlet.2019.11.005
McMahon L. R. (2016). Enhanced discriminative stimulus effects of Δ(9)-THC in the presence of cannabidiol and 8-OH-DPAT in rhesus monkeys. Drug and alcohol dependence, 165, 87–93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.05.016
Maxwell, E. A., King, T. I., Kamble, S. H., Raju, K., Berthold, E. C., León, F., Hampson, A., McMahon, L. R., McCurdy, C. R., & Sharma, A. (2021). Oral Pharmacokinetics in Beagle Dogs of the Mitragynine Metabolite, 7-Hydroxymitragynine. European journal of drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics, 46(3), 459–463. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13318-021-00684-2

Disclaimer: There is no content on the Kratom Science Podcast nor on KratomScience.com that in any way constitutes medical claims or medical advice. You should consult a medical professional for medical advice and we believe this sincerely. Take care.

Music: Risey, "Memories of Thailand" twitter.com/kratomscience facebook.com/kratomscience The Kratom Science Podcast is written and produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com

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58. New York Times Bestselling Author Maia Szalavitz on harm reduction, addiction, and her new book “Undoing Drugs”

Kratom Science — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 09:00:00 +0000

Maia Szalavitz is a journalist and New York Times bestselling author who has written about drugs, addiction, and neuroscience for 30 years. Today she talks with host Brian Gallagher about her new book, Undoing Drugs: The Untold Story of Harm Reduction and the Future of Addiction, why drug policy has failed, how policy based on harm reduction has and can continue to save people. Also, her latest piece in Scientific American that calls on the FDA to discontinue its support for a kratom ban, citing potential harm to public health during a massive overdose crisis.

Maia Szalavitz official website https://maiasz.com Buy Maia Szalavitz's new book, Undoing Drugs https://maiasz.com/books/undoing-drugs/ https://twitter.com/maiasz "The FDA Shouldn't Support a Ban on Kratom" https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-fda-shouldn-rsquo-t-support-a-ban-on-kratom/?fbclid=IwAR3dJOKZpTIjj-bdJ9Yc82xs7x9X7Yg98T0zjXTiasaFecSD1mkbttwK2bg

Music: Risey, "Memories of Thailand" Kratom Science Podcast is written and produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com

57. Representatives of PPHI, the Indonesian Farmers’ Co-Op

Kratom Science — Thu, 12 Aug 2021 09:00:00 +0000

Transcript available here https://www.kratomscience.com/2021/08/12/transcript-of-kratom-science-podcast-57-representatives-of-pphi-indonesian-farmers-co-op/

This episode is a result of an interview I conducted with members of the Horticulture Entrepreneurship Association of Indonesia (PPHI). Brian speaks to Mr. Fadli Ashari, translator for Mr. Suhairi Ery, Daily Chairman of PPHI and Mr. Jamaluddin Junaid, one of PPHI's kratom farmers. Because of translation issues, we agreed on a clear set of questions and answers ahead of time.

PPHI is a cooperative organization of farmers who grow many products, including kratom that is processed in a sanitary facility. PPHI operates, according to Mr. Ashari "under the foundation and direction of Indonesia’s Ministry of Agriculture, Plantations and Trade, with the coordination of our National Narcotics Agency (BNN)." PPHI is dedicated to fair trade for Indonesia's farmers in an environment of big American business speculation that drives down the price and quality of kratom.

We talk about what it will take to get Indonesia's kratom farmers up to US Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) standards, why over-purchasing of kratom by large US vendors leads to low quality, speculation, and unfair prices for kratom farmers, and rumors of a possible Indonesian kratom ban in 2023. We also discuss why Americans should cut down on excessive use, the recent legalization of kratom in Thailand, and how Southeast Asian countries cooperate on legal agreements, and have specific regional cultures within each country in relationship to the "God Tree".

Music: Risey, "Memories of Thailand" The Kratom Science Podcast is produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com

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56. Injuries, Pain, Cancer, Heart Attack, Endometriosis, Suicide Attempt: A Survival Story w/ Amanda Marie

Kratom Science — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 09:00:00 +0000

Amanda Marie is a farmer and construction worker living in New Mexico. She had been severely injured due to a skating accident when she was 13, and later a car accident for which she developed lifelong chronic pain. She went on to develop Fibromyalgia, Multiple Sclerosis, and had a heart attack before she was diagnosed with "excruciatingly painful" endometriosis, then cervical cancer for which she had to have a hysterectomy. For all of this, she needed pain medication. But once opioid hysteria kicked in, Amanda's doctors decided to cut her methadone treatment down to nothing in 3 days time, resulting in a horrible withdrawal experience and a suicide attempt when she could no longer handle the pain.

How does Amanda Marie survive? Kratom isn't the only answer, of course, but "Kratom has been a life saver for me," says Amanda. "And I mean that in a very serious way, because if it wasn't for kratom, I'd fear to think of where I'd be now."

Music: Risey, "Memories of Thailand" The Kratom Science Podcast is written and produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com

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55. Dr. Kirsten Smith of National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Kratom Science — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 09:00:00 +0000

Dr. Kirsten Smith is a post-doc fellow at National Institute on Drug Abuse. With a background in social work and working with communities with substance use disorder, Dr. Smith was instrumental in introducing kratom research to NIDA's Intramural Research Program, where she works in the in the Real-world Assessment, Prediction, and Treatment Unit. Dr. Smith is also open about her own past history of heroin use and is focused on combining her real-world experience with her training in the sciences. We talk about her work with Kentuckians with a substance use history, her kratom research, and the work she's doing currently at NIDA.

Dr. Smith's NIDA bio https://irp.drugabuse.gov/staff-members/kirsten-smith-ph-d/

References:

Smith, K. E., & Lawson, T. (2017). Prevalence and motivations for kratom use in a sample of substance users enrolled in a residential treatment program. Drug and alcohol dependence, 180, 340–348. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.08.034
Smith, K. E., Bunting, A. M., Walker, R., Hall, M. T., Grundmann, O., & Castillo, O. (2019). Non-Prescribed Buprenorphine Use Mediates the Relationship between Heroin Use and Kratom Use among a Sample of Polysubstance Users. Journal of psychoactive drugs, 51(4), 311–322. https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2019.1597224
Smith, K. E., Tillson, M. D., Staton, M., & Winston, E. M. (2020). Characterization of diverted buprenorphine use among adults entering corrections-based drug treatment in Kentucky. Drug and alcohol dependence, 208, 107837. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.107837
Stull, S. W., Smith, K. E., Vest, N. A., Effinger, D. P., & Epstein, D. H. (2021). Potential Value of the Insights and Lived Experiences of Addiction Researchers With Addiction. Journal of addiction medicine, 10.1097/ADM.0000000000000867. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1097/ADM.0000000000000867
Strickland, J. C., & Smith, K. E. (2021). Comment on Heilig et al.: The centrality of the brain and the fuzzy line of addiction. Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, 10.1038/s41386-021-01000-x. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-021-01000-x

Music: Risey, "Memories of Thailand" The Kratom Science Podcast is written and produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com

54. Afghanistan War Veteran Jaclyn O’Shea on surviving war, her husband’s suicide, and PTSD

Kratom Science — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 08:21:18 +0000

Jaclyn O'Shea has such a rich story that we couldn't possibly tell it all in this short conversation. She is a United States Army veteran who served two tours in the War in Afghanistan. Her husband fought in Iraq in the Battle of Fallujah. He became one of several veterans in that battle who suffered severe PTSD and ultimately committed suicide.

Jaclyn shares her own story of PTSD, alcoholism, disappearing on the Appalachian trail before settling right here in Pittsburgh to go to veterinary school.

She is a kratom advocate and we are so grateful to be her neighbor!

Not One More Vet, organization to prevent suicides among those who work in the animal health care business. Be nice to your vet! http://www.nomv.org

Music: Risey "Memories of Thailand" The Kratom Science Podcast is written and produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com

53. Journalist Nick Wing on Covering Kratom

Kratom Science — Thu, 17 Jun 2021 09:00:00 +0000

Nick Wing is currently editor of the nonprofit journal The Appeal (theappeal.org). He spent nearly 10 years as a journalist for Huffington Post, where he did extensive in-depth reporting on kratom, starting in 2016. In the course of his work, Nick Wing discovered that one of FDA's "kratom-related deaths" was a man who died of a gunshot wound. He also examined countless medical examiner reports of supposedly kratom-caused deaths, questioned FDA and other officials for evidence of their claims that kratom is dangerous, and nearly got into a legal battle with a Pennsylvania coroner who refused to release toxicology reports of a death supposedly caused by "acute mitragynine intoxication". Wing also covered the 2016 kratom demonstrations in DC that helped roll back the DEA's decision to ban kratom, the battle of kratom advocates with the Ohio Board of Pharmacy, and continues to work on issues related to the drug policy at The Appeal.

Read Nick Wing's work on kratom https://www.huffpost.com/topic/kratom Twitter @nickpwing

Music: Risey "Memories of Thailand"

The Kratom Science Podcast is written and produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com

52. The Other Crime of the Century: State-Sanctioned Torture of Pain Patients w/ Dr. Thomas Kline

Kratom Science — Thu, 03 Jun 2021 09:00:00 +0000

You may have seen HBO's documentary The Crime of the Century about pharmaceutical companies influencing doctors to prescribe an abundance of pain medication. But there's another story that may make for a sequel. CDC guidelines combined with DEA threats to doctors are now leaving chronic pain patients without the access to opioid pain medication that makes their lives worth living. It's an insane over-correction to a poorly analyzed problem. Many of these pain patients, including Kratom Science Podcast guest Dijon Evans (Episode 42) who has complex regional pain syndrome, have turned to kratom after nearly committing suicide from being forced off opioids. Hundreds of others did not make it. I talk to Dr. Thomas Kline, a physician out of Raleigh, former chief of Hospital at Home service at Harvard Medical, Boston Children's hospital physician, and outspoken pain patient advocate. He talks about why limited access to opioid pain meds does not solve the problem of addiction, Type 1 and Type 2 addiction, why the CDC should have no jurisdiction over doctor prescriptions, and why more and more pain patients are committing suicide.

Thomas Kline on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCr7rhfWEP_NKI7SfwiTFfxA

Thomas Kline on Twitter https://twitter.com/thomasklinemd

https://thomasklinemd.com/

https://thomasklinemd.medium.com/

https://www.nationalpaincouncil.org/

"SUICIDES associated with forced tapering of opiate pain treatments" https://thomasklinemd.medium.com/opioidcrisis-pain-related-suicides-associated-with-forced-tapers-c68c79ecf84d

"The ABCs of Addiction" https://www.jatheducational.com/post/the-abc-s-of-addiction-there-are-two-distinctly-different-types-of-addiction-and-it-matters

"FDA/CDER Response to Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing - Partial Petition Approval and Denial" https://www.regulations.gov/document/FDA-2012-P-0818-0793

Music: Risey, "Memories of Thailand"

The Kratom Science Podcast is written and produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com

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51. Heroin, Kratom, and Comedy with David Oakley

Kratom Science — Thu, 20 May 2021 09:00:00 +0000

David Oakley is a stand up comedian from Atlanta. Previously addicted to heroin, Dave discovered kratom and it changed his life. He became active in kratom advocacy and attended the historic protest in Washington, DC in 2016 that helped keep kratom legal. Later, Dave began a career in stand-up comedy and moved to the small town of Durango in Southwestern Colorado. There he started a comedy production company called Comedy Uprising. During COVID, he moved back to Atlanta where you can find him on several open mics and comedy shows throughout the week. Comedy Uprising is organizing the Four Corners Comedy Festival which will be held in Durango on September 10-12, 2021.

@DaveOLaughs on social media David Oakley stand up clip from 2019 https://youtu.be/xL90cjKSCk Four Corners Comedy Festival https://fourcornerscomedyfestival.com/ Comic Uprising (Dave's production company) https://www.facebook.com/comicuprising/

Music: "Memories of Thailand" by Risey The Kratom Science Podcast is written and produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com

50. The Kratom Genome with Julia Brose and Dr. Robin Buell

Kratom Science — Thu, 06 May 2021 09:00:00 +0000

Brian welcomes Julia Brose, graduate student at Michigan State University and lead author of the study "The Mitragyna speciosa (Kratom) Genome: A resource for data-mining potent pharmaceuticals that impact human health". She's joined by Dr. Robin Buell, MSU Distinguished Professor of Plant Biology, who co-authored the study.

We talk about the Rubiaceae family of plants, the process of studying the kratom genome, and plant genetics in general.

Study summarized: https://www.kratomscience.com/2021/03/10/kratom-genome-published/

Study referenced: Brose, J., Lau, K. H., Dang, T., Hamilton, J. P., Martins, L., Hamberger, B., Hamberger, B., Jiang, J., O’Connor, S. E., & Buell, C. R. (2021). The Mitragyna speciosa (Kratom) Genome: A resource for data-mining potent pharmaceuticals that impact human health. G3 (Bethesda, Md.), jkab058. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1093/g3journal/jkab058 Full Text (abstract with link to PDF download): https://academic.oup.com/g3journal/advance-article/doi/10.1093/g3journal/jkab058/6156838

Music: Risey, "Memories of Thailand" The Kratom Science Podcast is written and produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com

49. Comedian Shane Mauss Talks Science Podcasting and Kratom

Kratom Science — Thu, 22 Apr 2021 09:00:00 +0000

Shane Mauss is a stand up comedian who has appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Joe Rogan Experience, WTF with Marc Maron, Comedy Central, The Green Room with Paul Provenza, and Getting Doug with High, just to name a few. For the past 7 years he’s interviewed scientists on a wide range of topics for his science podcast Here We Are. In 2018, he starred in the documentary Psychonautics about his own experience with psychedelics. He’s here to talk about science podcasting, his experience with kratom, and his new comedy/philosophy podcast he co-hosts with artist Ramin Nazzer called Mind Under Matter.

Mind Under Matter podcast https://mindunderpod.com/ Here We Are podcast https://www.herewearepodcast.com/ Shane Mauss website https://www.shanemauss.com/ Psychonautics documentary https://www.psychonauticsfilm.com Shane Mauss Patreon https://www.patreon.com/shanemauss https://twitter.com/shane_mauss

Music: Risey, "Memories of Thailand" The Kratom Science Podcast is written and produced by Brian Gallagher for https://www.KratomScience.com

Hamilton Morris, Soren Shade, and Dr. Oliver Grundmann Talk Kratom and a New Survey

Kratom Science — Mon, 19 Apr 2021 09:00:00 +0000

Take the new anonymous kratom survey! tinyurl.com/kratomteasurvey

Hamilton Morris, creator of Hamilton's Pharmacopeia, and producer Soren Shade talk to University of Florida scientist and past Kratom Science Podcast guest Dr. Oliver Grundmann about his new anonymous research survey on kratom tea. All kratom consumers are invited to participate.

Plus, how an overly positive kratom narrative can be just as misleading as a negative narrative, kratom dependence, quality standards, toxicity and safety, fresh vs. dried leaf, the variability of kratom product, labeling issues, and the stigma against opioids in general leading to under-prescription.

48. Plant Medicine from Food Waste with Andrew Tait

Kratom Science — Thu, 15 Apr 2021 09:00:00 +0000

Andrew Tait from Vancouver BC Canada got his PhD in chemistry at the University of British Columbia and founded Tait Labs in 2011. He studied traditional Chinese medicine and "realized a need to apply scientific rigor to traditional medicines in order prove their potency, safety and efficacy in the treatment of a wide range of ailments that are plaguing the world today." Tait Labs developed a product based on a Traditional Chinese Medicine recipe extracted from aged mandarin orange peels that he now sells as a supplement for digestive relief, nausea, and gut health promotion. We talk kratom, snake oil, plant medicine, naturopathy, and the politics of access to helpful substances.

Tait Labs https://www.taitlabs.com Andrew Tait on Twitter @taitlog Andrew Tait's YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZTO3eEqAodJcgoJb0atr_A

Music: Risey, "Memories of Thailand" The Kratom Science Podcast is written and produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com

47. Take it as a Tea with Hamilton’s Pharmacopeia Producer Soren Shade

Kratom Science — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 09:00:00 +0000

Soren Shade grew up in the woods of West Virginia. Through a program for low-income, high-achieving students, he studied philosophy at Columbia University in New York. In his senior year he worked research assistant for Hamilton Morris and ended up as a producer on Season 3 of Hamilton's Pharmacopeia, released earlier this year. Soren is a co-founder of Top Tree Herbs. We talk about Soren's experience as a student of Dr. Carl Hart, the "opioid crisis" (in reality a poverty crisis) in West Virginia, his favorite Pharmacopeia episodes, re-publishing a 1983 pamphlet on psychedelic toads, growing and studying kratom, traditional preparation and consumption of kratom as a tea, and the future of the kratom industry.

References in this episode:

Information on the "Bufalo Alvarius: The Psychedelic Toad of the Sonoran Desert" pamphlet and merch being sold for charities that include the Michael J. Fox Parkinson's Foundation. https://www.psychedelictoadofthesonorandesert.com

"Kratom Tea: Considering the Chemistry" https://toptreeherbs.com/kratom-tea-considering-the-chemistry/

"Kratom Tea vs. Toss-and-Wash" https://toptreeherbs.com/kratom-tea-vs-toss-and-wash/

Dr. Carl Hart https://drcarlhart.com/

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46. Surviving Decades-Long Severe Chronic Pain with Dijon Evans

Kratom Science — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 09:00:00 +0000

Dijon Evans is a survivor of severe chronic pain, and as past Kratom Science Podcast guest Nina Ajdin refers to her, a warrior. At 16 and working as a lifeguard, Dijon injured her leg trying to save a little boy from drowning. Doctors applied a cast too tight, and despite days of pleading, they would not listen to her, and this led not only to an amputation but blot clots and several other complications, and a condition known today as "chronic regional pain syndrome", which is one of the most painful conditions a human can have. Despite her disability, she was determined to go to medical school for neurosurgery. Another injury during her time in medical school prevented her from continuing her education. She has since had 240 surgeries and has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. She nearly committed suicide when she was abruptly cut off of her opioid pain medication, and discovered kratom, which gives her some quality of life again. Dijon is a researcher and advocate for kratom and plant medicine in general. We talk about her life, relationships, God, and plant medicine...This is a gift.

American Kratom Association commercial featuring Dijon Evans: https://vimeo.com/442145460

Music: Risey, "Memories of Thailand"

The Kratom Science Podcast is written and produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com

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45. Dr. Abisheak Sharma, Pharmacokineticist and Kratom Researcher

Kratom Science — Thu, 25 Feb 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Dr. Abisheak Sharma studied pharmacy and pharmacokinetics in India before coming to the United States to research under kratom expert Dr. Bonnie Avery. He now researches kratom with Dr. Christopher McCurdy at University of Florida as part of the Translational Drug Development Core. Dr. Sharma addresses the concern with kratom and other drug interactions, improved chromatography methods of identifying kratom alkaloids, research on kratom plants being grown by University of Florida, and where we are with kratom and human clinical trials.

A full transcription of this podcast is forthcoming and will be linked here

Music: Risey, "Memories of Thailand"

The Kratom Science Podcast is written and produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com

Dr. Sharma's UFL profile https://pharmacy.ufl.edu/profile/sharma-abhisheak/ Translational Drug Development Core https://www.ctsi.ufl.edu/research/laboratory-services/translational-drug-development-core

Studies Cited in this episode:

Zhang, M., Sharma, A., León, F., Avery, B., Kjelgren, R., McCurdy, C. R., & Pearson, B. J. (2020). Effects of Nutrient Fertility on Growth and Alkaloidal Content in Mitragyna speciosa (Kratom). Frontiers in plant science, 11, 597696. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.597696 Full Text https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7779599/

Sharma, A., & McCurdy, C. R. (2020). Assessing the therapeutic potential and toxicity of Mitragyna speciosa in opioid use disorder. Expert opinion on drug metabolism & toxicology, 1–3. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/17425255.2021.1853706 Full Text https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17425255.2021.1853706

Kruegel, A. C., Uprety, R., Grinnell, S. G., Langreck, C., Pekarskaya, E. A., Le Rouzic, V., Ansonoff, M., Gassaway, M. M., Pintar, J. E., Pasternak, G. W., Javitch, J. A., Majumdar, S., & Sames, D. (2019). 7-Hydroxymitragynine Is an Active Metabolite of Mitragynine and a Key Mediator of Its Analgesic Effects. ACS central science, 5(6), 992–1001. https://doi.org/10.1021/acscentsci.9b00141 Full Text https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6598159/

Trakulsrichai, S., Sathirakul, K., Auparakkitanon, S., Krongvorakul, J., Sueajai, J., Noumjad, N., Sukasem, C., & Wananukul, W. (2015). Pharmacokinetics of mitragynine in man. Drug design, development and therapy, 9, 2421–2429. https://doi.org/10.2147/DDDT.S79658 Full Text https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4425236/

Kamble, S. H., Sharma, A., King, T. I., Berthold, E. C., León, F., Meyer, P., Kanumuri, S., McMahon, L. R., McCurdy, C. R., & Avery, B. A. (2020). Exploration of cytochrome P450 inhibition mediated drug-drug interaction potential of kratom alkaloids. Toxicology letters, 319, 148–154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxlet.2019.11.005 Full Text https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S037842741930356X?via%3Dihub

Kamble, S. H., León, F., King, T. I., Berthold, E. C., Lopera-Londoño, C., Siva Rama Raju, K., Hampson, A. J., Sharma, A., Avery, B. A., McMahon, L. R., & McCurdy, C. R. (2020). Metabolism of a Kratom Alkaloid Metabolite in Human Plasma Increases Its Opioid Potency and Efficacy. ACS pharmacology & translational science, 3(6), 1063–1068. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsptsci.0c00075

Obeng, S., Kamble, S. H., Reeves, M. E., Restrepo, L. F., Patel, A., Behnke, M., Chear, N. J., Ramanathan, S., Sharma, A., León, F., Hiranita, T., Avery, B. A., McMahon, L. R., & McCurdy, C. R. (2020). Investigation of the Adrenergic and Opioid Binding Affinities, Metabolic Stability, Plasma Protein Binding Properties, and Functional Effects of Selected Indole-Based Kratom Alkaloids. Journal of medicinal chemistry, 63(1), 433–439. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b01465 Full Text https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7676998/

Sharma, A., Kamble, S. H., León, F., Chear, N. J., King, T. I., Berthold, E. C., Ramanathan, S., McCurdy, C. R., & Avery, B. A. (2019). Simultaneous quantification of ten key Kratom alkaloids in Mitragyna speciosa leaf extracts and commercial products by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Drug testing and analysis, 11(8), 1162–1171. https://doi.org/10.1002/dta.2604

Wilson, L. L., Harris, H. M., Eans, S. O., Brice-Tutt, A. C., Cirino, T. J., Stacy, H. M., Simons, C. A., León, F., Sharma, A., Boyer, E. W., Avery, B. A., McLaughlin, J. P., & McCurdy, C. R. (2020). Lyophilized Kratom Tea as a Therapeutic Option for Opioid Dependence. Drug and alcohol dependence, 216, 108310. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.108310 Full Text https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0376871620304750?via%3Dihub

Avery, B. A., Boddu, S. P., Sharma, A., Furr, E. B., Leon, F., Cutler, S. J., & McCurdy, C. R. (2019). Comparative Pharmacokinetics of Mitragynine after Oral Administration of Mitragyna speciosa (Kratom) Leaf Extracts in Rats. Planta medica, 85(4), 340–346. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-0770-3683

44. Biomedical Educator and Research Scientist Dr. Walter Prozialeck

Kratom Science — Thu, 11 Feb 2021 10:00:00 +0000

My guest is Dr. Walter Prozialeck. Originally from Johnstown, PA, Dr. Prozialeck is a biomedical educator and researcher at Midwestern University in Chicago, where he served as chair of the Department of Pharmacology from 1997 to 2018. He’s been studying kratom since 2012. We talk about one of the first research reviews published on kratom that he worked on in 2012, osteopathic medicine, kratom as it relates to COVID pain, sleep, whether or not kratom is an opioid, and the study he conducted about toxic metals found in samples of commercial kratom.

MUSIC ...Intro: Risey, "Memories of Thailand" Outro...: Matt Charles "What's Shaking?" (Matt Charles Prozialeck on harmonica) http://www.mattcharlesblues.com

STUDIES CITED in this episode:

Prozialeck W. C. (2016). Update on the Pharmacology and Legal Status of Kratom. The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, 116(12), 802–809. https://doi.org/10.7556/jaoa.2016.156 Full text link: https://jaoa.org/article.aspx?articleid=2094342

Metastasio, A., Prevete, E., Singh, D., Grundmann, O., Prozialeck, W. C., Veltri, C., Bersani, G., & Corazza, O. (2020). Can Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) Alleviate COVID-19 Pain? A Case Study. Frontiers in psychiatry, 11, 594816. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.594816 Full text link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7717955/

Prozialeck, W. C., Edwards, J. R., Lamar, P. C., Plotkin, B. J., Sigar, I. M., Grundmann, O., & Veltri, C. A. (2020). Evaluation of the Mitragynine Content, Levels of Toxic Metals and the Presence of Microbes in Kratom Products Purchased in the Western Suburbs of Chicago. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(15), 5512. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17155512 Full text link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7432033/

Singh, D., Narayanan, S., Vicknasingam, B. K., Prozialeck, W. C., Ramanathan, S., Zainal, H., & Harun, S. N. (2018). Severity of Pain and Sleep Problems during Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa Korth.) Cessation among Regular Kratom Users. Journal of psychoactive drugs, 50(3), 266–274. https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2018.1443234

The Kratom Science Podcast is written and produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com

43. Kratom Addiction w. Dr Cornel Stanciu and Dr. Thomas Penders

Kratom Science — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 10:00:00 +0000

My guests are two addiction psychiatrists, Dr. Cornel Stanciu and Dr. Thomas Penders. I responded to their webinar in episode 38. I thought they overstated the dangers of kratom and wondered why you’d prescribe buprenorphine for kratom withdrawals. We talk about that, and the topic of kratom addiction and addiction in general.

Studies referenced to in this podcast:

"Best Practices in Managing Patients with Kratom Addiction" webinar by Dr Stanciu and Dr Penders https://pcssnow.org/event/best-practices-in-managing-patients-with-kratom-addiction/

Kratom Science Podcast #38: "Psychiatrists Overstate the Dangers of Kratom" https://www.kratomscience.com/podcast/38-psychiatrists-overstate-the-dangers-of-kratom/

Dr. Stanciu's case study on kratom withdrawal... Stanciu CN, Gnanasegaram SA, Ahmed S, Penders T. Kratom Withdrawal: A Systematic Review with Case Series. J Psychoactive Drugs. 2019 Jan-Mar;51(1):12-18. doi: 10.1080/02791072.2018.1562133. Epub 2019 Jan 5. PMID: 30614408. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30614408/

Kruegel AC, Gassaway MM, Kapoor A, Váradi A, Majumdar S, Filizola M, Javitch JA, Sames D. Synthetic and Receptor Signaling Explorations of the Mitragyna Alkaloids: Mitragynine as an Atypical Molecular Framework for Opioid Receptor Modulators. J Am Chem Soc. 2016 Jun 1;138(21):6754-64. doi: 10.1021/jacs.6b00360. Epub 2016 May 18. PMID: 27192616; PMCID: PMC5189718. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27192616/

LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; 2012-. Kratom. [Updated 2020 Apr 3]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK548231/

Leong Bin Abdullah MFI, Tan KL, Mohd Isa S, Yusoff NS, Chear NJY, Singh D. Lipid profile of regular kratom (Mitragyna speciosa Korth.) users in the community setting. PLoS One. 2020 Jun 11;15(6):e0234639. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0234639. PMID: 32525924; PMCID: PMC7289408. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7289408/

Music: Risey "Memories of Thailand"

Kratom Science Podcast is written and produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com

41. Electrocution Recovery with Maxime Ruel

Kratom Science — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 10:00:32 +0000

My guest is Maxime Ruel from Quebec Canada. Max was a construction worker who was electrocuted on the job.. This led to extreme chronic pain that put him out of work. He eventually became homeless. After trying several medications he discovered kratom, which he says saved his life. This is Maxime Ruel, and this is his kratom story...

Music: Risey, "Memories of Thailand"

Written and produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com

Twitter @kratomscience

Facebook.com/kratomscience

40. Dr. Oliver Grundmann

Kratom Science — Thu, 05 Nov 2020 17:05:28 +0000

Dr. Oliver Grundmann is a Clinical Associate Professor with a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences and a masters' in Forensic Toxicology, and expert in the study of kratom. University of Florida College of Pharmacy, where Dr. Grundmann works, has been a recipient of nearly $7 million in NIDA grants in 2018 and 2019 for the study of kratom.

39. Recovery in the UK with Paul W.

Kratom Science — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 09:00:05 +0000

Paul W was prescribed hydrocodone following a car accident... the beginning of a long journey with opioid pain pills. Living in Florida during the golden age of pill mills (early 2000s) didn't help. After addiction, recovery, and relapse Paul moved to Italy where he met his future husband. They moved to England where Paul relapsed again, starting off with over-the-counter codeine. This time, Paul is using kratom to help in his recovery.

Music: Risey, "Memories of Thailand"

Written and produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com

38. Psychiatrists Overstate the Dangers of Kratom

Kratom Science — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 09:00:09 +0000

In a recent webinar, psychiatrists describe kratom as dangerous with lethal overdose and toxicity potential. Using the studies they cite, Brian Gallagher explains why the dose of mitragyinine to establish LD50 in mice is far beyond the levels consumed in leaf and even extracted kratom, and why one investigation into coroners’ reports disproved claims of so-called “kratom alone” deaths. Plus, will psychiatrists administer buprenorphine for kratom withdrawal?

https://www.kratomscience.com/2020/10/06/toxic-levels-of-kratom-and-lethal-dose-of-mitragynine/ "Toxic Levels of Kratom and LD50 of Mitragynine"

https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrestox.8b00218 "Lateral Flow Assessment and Unanticipated Toxicity of Kratom" Chem. Res. Toxicol. 2019, 32, 1, 113–121 Publication Date:October 31, 2018

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2015.00189/full Ilmie MU, Jaafar H, Mansor SM, Abdullah JM. Subchronic toxicity study of standardized methanolic extract of Mitragyna speciosa Korth in Sprague-Dawley Rats. Front Neurosci. 2015 Jun 17;9:189. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2015.00189. PMID: 26136645; PMCID: PMC4470260.

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc1811055 Gershman K, Timm K, Frank M, Lampi L, Melamed J, Gerona R, Monte AA. Deaths in Colorado Attributed to Kratom. N Engl J Med. 2019 Jan 3;380(1):97-98. doi: 10.1056/NEJMc1811055. PMID: 30601742; PMCID: PMC6688840.

Music: Risey, "Memories of Thailand"

Written and produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com

37. Sober October Starts Early

Kratom Science — Thu, 24 Sep 2020 09:00:00 +0000

Just me this time around. I talk about a soon-to-be-released document I've been working on through COVID that's 200 pages of kratom testimonials from over 800 consumers who posted to KratomScience.com. I talk about a study on kratom and metabolism I blogged about here https://www.kratomscience.com/2020/09/22/study-shows-mitragynine-metabolizes-into-7-hydroxomitragynine/. And I talk about my own history of drinking alcohol and how kratom is helping me kick off Sober October a week early.

The Kratom Science Podcast is written and produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com

36. Surviving Abuse and Addiction with Julie Current

Kratom Science — Thu, 10 Sep 2020 13:58:07 +0000

Julie Current is a survivor.

She had a rough childhood and as an adult she survived physical abuse that led to multiple disabilities like PTSD, chronic pain, and epilepsy.

With kratom, kava, and cannabis as tools, she’s coming up on two years sober on October 28. This is Julie Current and this is her kratom story.

Music: Risey "Memories of Thailand"

The Kratom Science Podcast is written and produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com

35. Kratom in the Workplace with Michael McCunney

Kratom Science — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 09:00:15 +0000

Working in a competitive environment in the sales and marketing field, my guest Michael McCunney uses kratom as a stimulant, cognitive boost, and for general well-being. We talk about the importance of doing research, finding a good source, discovering your dose, and staying hydrated.

Music: Risey, "Memories of Thailand"

The Kratom Science Podcast is produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com

33. Pain Management for Interstitial Cystitis with Maranda Flynn

Kratom Science — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 09:00:00 +0000

Maranda was diagnosed at 22 with interstitial cystitis, a painful bladder disease. She went into pain management and became addicted to opiates. After 3 years a friend introduced her to kratom. she got out of opiate hell, and was able to be present for her children and husband, who also used kratom to beat alcoholism. From Tennessee, this is Maranda Flynn, and this is her kratom story...

32. A Light at the End of the Tunnel with Angie Childs

Kratom Science — Wed, 15 Jul 2020 09:00:00 +0000

Angie Childs says the road to her addiction started with an abusive childhood. She was first prescribed demerol as a teenager for PTSD-related migraines. After several years of opiate addiction and two near-death experiences, Angie found the strength to get sober. She has found kratom to be a powerful tool both to stay off opiates and deal with PTSD and chronic pain. She now holds down a job and has recently reunited with her daughter after two decades. This is Angie Childs, and this is her kratom story...

31. A Kratom and Cannabis Success Story with Jacob Ringstad

Kratom Science — Tue, 07 Jul 2020 09:00:41 +0000

Jacob Ringstad never liked opiates. But at 18 he was diagnosed with Degenerative Disk Disease. At 19 he was injured in car accidents. This would lead to over a decade of managing chronic pain with opiates. Three years ago Jacob decided to get sober for the sake of his daughter. Using kratom and cannabis, Jacob has managed to stay clean and open his own CBD business. This is Jacob Ringstad, and this is his kratom story...

https://www.facebook.com/jacob.ringstad

https://www.instagram.com/cbdwhistleblower/

Music: Risey, "Memories of Thailand"

Written and produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com

30. Dr. Darshan Singh, University of Science in Malaysia

Kratom Science — Wed, 01 Jul 2020 09:00:00 +0000

My guest is Dr. Darshan Singh from the Center for Drug Research at the University of Science in Malaysia. Dr. Singh studies substance abuse, addiction treatment, and harm reduction. He has conducted multiple studies of kratom consumers, and has found kratom in its pure form to be a safe and effective way to decrease substance use, mitigate withdrawal symptoms, and decrease HIV risk behaviors among addicts. Dr. Singh is one of the most active scientists in the study of ketum in Southeast Asia.

Center for Drug Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia https://drug.usm.my/

Studies discussed in this interview:

Singh D, Narayanan S, Grundmann O, Dzulkapli EB, Vicknasingam B. Effects of Kratom (Mitragyna Speciosa Korth.) Use in Regular Users. Subst Use Misuse. 2019;54(14):2284-2289. doi:10.1080/10826084.2019.1645178 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31347441/

Singh D, Narayanan S, Müller CP, et al. Severity of Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa Korth.) Psychological Withdrawal Symptoms. J Psychoactive Drugs. 2018;50(5):445-450. doi:10.1080/02791072.2018.1511879 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30152738/

Saref A, Suraya S, Singh D, et al. Self-reported prevalence and severity of opioid and kratom (Mitragyna speciosa korth.) side effects. J Ethnopharmacol. 2019;238:111876. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2019.111876 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31014959/

Singh D, Yeou Chear NJ, Narayanan S, et al. Patterns and reasons for kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) use among current and former opioid poly-drug users. J Ethnopharmacol. 2020;249:112462. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2019.112462 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31816368/

Singh D, Müller CP, Murugaiyah V, et al. Evaluating the hematological and clinical-chemistry parameters of kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) users in Malaysia. J Ethnopharmacol. 2018;214:197-206. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2017.12.017 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29248450/

Leong Bin Abdullah MFI, Tan KL, Mohd Isa S, Yusoff NS, Chear NJY, Singh D. Lipid profile of regular kratom (Mitragyna speciosa Korth.) users in the community setting. PLoS One. 2020;15(6):e0234639. Published 2020 Jun 11. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0234639 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32525924/

Singh D, Müller CP, Vicknasingam BK, Mansor SM. Social Functioning of Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) Users in Malaysia. J Psychoactive Drugs. 2015;47(2):125-131. doi:10.1080/02791072.2015.1012610 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25950592/

Singh D, Narayanan S, Suraya S, et al. Public Perceptions toward Kratom (Mitragyna Speciosa) Use in Malaysia [published online ahead of print, 2020 Mar 10]. J Psychoactive Drugs. 2020;1-7. doi:10.1080/02791072.2020.1738603 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32153252/

Saref A, Suraya S, Singh D, et al. Self-Report Data on Regular Consumption of Illicit Drugs and HIV Risk Behaviors after Kratom (Mitragyna Speciosa korth.) Initiation among Illicit Drug Users in Malaysia. J Psychoactive Drugs. 2020;52(2):138-144. doi:10.1080/02791072.2019.1686553 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31682782/

The Kratom Science Podcast is written and produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com

29. Jorie Kotowsky: A Figure Skater’s Road to Recovery

Kratom Science — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 13:48:11 +0000

Jorie Kowtowsky had her first opiate prescription at 10 years old after suffering a figure skating injury. Many injuries, during her high school years and a bad car accident at age 24 left Jorie permanently disabled. Along with other traumatic events in her life, which led to PTSD, Jorie became an opiate addict. After a brush with the law Jorie committed to becoming sober. Just last year she discovered kratom and it helped her stay off opiates, get off psych meds, and decreased her use of other medications. This is Jorie Kotowsky and this is her kratom story...

The Kratom Science Podcast is written and produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com

DSS Sunlight Indoor Growing of Cannabis with Dr. Jonathan Cachat

Kratom Science — Sat, 20 Jun 2020 20:42:50 +0000

Dr. Cachat explains his DSS Indoor Growing method which uses natural sunlight to grow indoors. For more information on this growing method visit http://ccvresearch.com/

28. The Importance of Public Policy with Neuroscientist, Dr. Jonathan Cachat

Kratom Science — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 09:00:00 +0000

Dr. Jonathan Cachat is a neuroscientist and expert in psychopharmacology, who has extensively studied the effects of psychoactive substances on zebrafish. Dr. Cachat was involved in pioneering the first ever cannabis lab technician program at Hocking College in Ohio. He is currently involved in digitizing pre-prohibition research for the Cannabis Museum in Cincinnati. Dr. Cachat is active in promoting sound public policy that would allow kratom, cannabis, and psychedelics to be studied and utilized to their full potential.

Twitter @jcachat jc@ccvresearch.com http://jcachat.com/ http://ccvresearch.com/ https://www.cannabismuseum.com/ https://www.hocking.edu/laboratory-sciences

27. Rodeo Riding Leads to Chronic Pain to Addiction to Recovery w/ Stephanie Van Dyke

Kratom Science — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 09:00:00 +0000

Stephanie Van Dyke was on her way to a professional career in rodeo horse riding, until she had an accident, which would give her chronic pain for the rest of her life. As a result, she got prescribed and hooked on opiate pain pills. Her opiate addiction took 10 years away from her life and she lost custody of her children. Six years ago Stephanie discovered kratom and it helped her break that addiction... This is Stephanie Van Dyke and this is her kratom story.

Music: Risey "Memories of Thailand"

The Kratom Science Podcast is written and produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com

26. Scars: How 20+ Surgeries Led to the Revelation That is Kratom

Kratom Science — Tue, 02 Jun 2020 09:00:00 +0000

My guest is Scars Hernandez from Dayton Ohio. Scars earned his name from over 20 surgeries in his lifetime. In 2018, after years of being addicted to pills, he found kratom..He’s now active in the movement to keep kratom legal in Ohio. This is Scars, and this is his kratom story...

Music: Risey "Memories of Thailand"

The Kratom Science Podcast is written and produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com

25. Living with Degenerative Disk Disease: Misty Brown’s Story

Kratom Science — Tue, 26 May 2020 19:29:25 +0000

Misty Brown was diagnosed with Degenerative Disk Disease in 2008 which led to an 11 year addiction to opiate painkillers. After being fired from pain management and detoxing, Misty watched the Netflix documentary A Leaf of Faith which she says changed her life. She found that kratom helped her live with her chronic pain from DDD. Misty is now captain of her district for the National Advocacy Council for the American Kratom Association. She also admins the Facebook group T-SOL AdvoKacy. This is Misty Brown and this is her kratom story...

Misty's article from Pain Treatment Directory https://www.paintreatmentdirectory.com/inspiring-stories/misty-brown-kratom-helped-me-to-kick-my-addiction-to-pain-pills-and-reduce-my-pain

Music: Risey, "Memories of Thailand"

The Kratom Science Podcast is written and produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com

24. Kratom Gave Me My Life Back with Kami Ann Davis

Kratom Science — Tue, 19 May 2020 09:00:54 +0000

My guest is Kami Ann Davis. Kami was in a rafting accident in her 20s that led to a life of chronic pain.. She went on to become a nurse. The physical strain of nursing combined with the opioid medications for her chronic pain led her to search for an alternative. Kami discovered kratom has become an advocate for the plant that she says provides focus, energy, as well as pain relief. This is Kami Ann Davis, and this is her kratom story.

Kami's article "Kami Davis: I Got My Life Back After 20 Years by Taking Kratom" for Alternative Pain Treatment Network. https://www.paintreatmentdirectory.com/inspiring-stories/kami-davis-i-got-my-life-back-after-20-years-by-taking-kratom

Kami's kratom advocacy group is Southeast Beautiful https://southeastbeautiful.com/

Music: Risey, "Memories of Thailand"

Kratom Science Podcast is written and produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com

23. Social Scientist and Psychologist, Dr. Marc Swogger

Kratom Science — Tue, 12 May 2020 09:00:39 +0000

My guest is Dr. Marc Swogger from the University of Rochester Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Swogger is a social scientist and psychologist who studies substance use. He has co-authored multiple studies on the individual and public health effects of the use of kratom.

Studies discussed in this interview:

Marc T. Swogger, Elaine Hart, Fire Erowid, Earth Erowid, Nicole Trabold, Kaila Yee, Kimberly A. Parkhurst, Brittany M. Priddy & Zach Walsh (2015) Experiences of Kratom Users: A Qualitative Analysis, Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 47:5, 360-367, DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2015.1096434

Coe MA, Pillitteri JL, Sembower MA, Gerlach KK, Henningfield JE. Kratom as a substitute for opioids: Results from an online survey. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2019;202:24‐32. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.05.005 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31284119/

Swogger MT, Walsh Z. Kratom use and mental health: A systematic review. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2018;183:134‐140. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.10.012 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29248691/

Prozialeck WC, Avery BA, Boyer EW, et al. Kratom policy: The challenge of balancing therapeutic potential with public safety. Int J Drug Policy. 2019;70:70‐77. doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2019.05.003 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0955395919301252?via%3Dihu

Grundmann O, Brown PN, Henningfield J, Swogger M, Walsh Z. The therapeutic potential of kratom. Addiction. 2018;113(10):1951‐1953. doi:10.1111/add.14371 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/add.1437

Singh D, Narayanan S, Suraya S, et al. Public Perceptions toward Kratom (Mitragyna Speciosa) Use in Malaysia [published online ahead of print, 2020 Mar 10]. J Psychoactive Drugs. 2020;1‐7. doi:10.1080/02791072.2020.1738603 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32153252/

Saref A, Suraya S, Singh D, et al. Self-Report Data on Regular Consumption of Illicit Drugs and HIV Risk Behaviors after Kratom (Mitragyna Speciosa korth.) Initiation among Illicit Drug Users in Malaysia [published online ahead of print, 2019 Nov 4]. J Psychoactive Drugs. 2019;1‐7. doi:10.1080/02791072.2019.1686553 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31682782

Singh D, Müller CP, Vicknasingam BK, Mansor SM. Social Functioning of Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) Users in Malaysia. J Psychoactive Drugs. 2015;47(2):125‐131. doi:10.1080/02791072.2015.1012610 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25950592/

Eggleston W, Stoppacher R, Suen K, Marraffa JM, Nelson LS. Kratom Use and Toxicities in the United States. Pharmacotherapy. 2019;39(7):775‐777. doi:10.1002/phar.2280 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31099038/

Grundmann O, Brown PN, Boyer EW, et al. Critique of “Kratom Use and Toxicities in the United States”. Pharmacotherapy. 2019;39(11):1119‐1120. doi:10.1002/phar.2336 https://accpjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/phar.2336

Kratom Science blog post on Jack Henningfield’s initial statement about “Kratom Use and Toxicities in the United States” https://www.kratomscience.com/2019/07/17/widely-publicized-report-on-poison-control-calls-about-kratom-is-flawed-says-kratom-expert/

Music: Risey, "Memories of Thailand"

Written and produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com

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22. An Artist’s Outlet: Suzette Prutsok’s Kratom Story

Kratom Science — Tue, 05 May 2020 09:00:26 +0000

My guest is Suzette Prutsok from Southern California. Suzette is an abstract artist and screenwriter. She was addicted to opiates for years, and after a couple attempts, got sober and made a profound change in her life with the help of kratom. This is Suzette Prutsok, and this is her kratom story.

Suzette Prutsok's art can be seen on Instragram @lagtime_art

Twitter @SuzetteLPrutsok

Music: Risey, "Memories of Thailand"

Written and produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com

21. Melting Away Anxiety with Mike Rumble

Kratom Science — Tue, 28 Apr 2020 09:00:00 +0000

Mike Rumble is from Welland, Ontario Canada working in a grocery story on the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic. He takes kratom for anxiety and depression. He's also an video game streamer and he has a great mic. He talks about kratom legality and of course his own kratom story.

20. The Road to Recovery and Micro-dosing with Jennifer Van Blunk

Kratom Science — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 09:00:17 +0000

Jennifer Van Blunk is a Philly pastry chef. Years ago her dream of a career in the military was cut short due to an injury. After being discharged from the Navy, she took opiates for the physical and emotional pain for years, until she got to the point where, in her words, "I was literally waiting to die." She discovered kratom was a tool in her recovery. We also talk about setting your intention while microdosing. This is Jennifer Van Blunk and this is her Kratom Story:

19. Making a Dangerous Workplace More Safe with Matt Catlin

Kratom Science — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 09:00:00 +0000

My guest is Matt Catlin, from Long Island, NY. Matt is an HVAC technician. He takes kratom to deal with chronic pain from work related injuries. He says kratom deals with pain in a way that allows him to stay focused in a workplace that’s often dangerous. Last summer we featured Matt as part of our Kratom Stories series. We also talk about kratom strains (are they even a thing?), drug policy in New York state, kratom as portrayed in the media, and how do you pronounce kratom anyway?

Music: Risey "Memories of Thailand"

Written and produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com

18. Defeating A Heroin Addiction: Chad G’s Inspiring Kratom Story

Kratom Science — Tue, 07 Apr 2020 09:00:14 +0000

My guest is Chad G. Chad suffered through a 6 year opiate addiction that threatened his life and career. Twice, he nearly died of a heroin overdose. This dark period of Chad’s life came to an end when, he says, he discovered kratom and never looked back. Now he’s engaged to be married and runs his family’s business.

17. Can You Grow Kratom at Home? With Justin Sykes

Kratom Science — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 09:00:55 +0000

My guest is Justin Sykes, also known as TurtleTodd. We talk about growing kratom at home. Justin was a former opiate addict who switched from Suboxone to kratom several years ago and never looked back.

Music: Risey "Memories of Thailand"

Written and produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com

16. The Navy’s Issue with Kratom… with Andy Knowles

Kratom Science — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 09:00:04 +0000

My guest is Andy Knowles. He is a Chief Gunners Mate who was recently kicked out of the United States Navy after a 15 year career, just for using kratom. Andy lives in Jacksonville Florida with his wife Stephanie. This is his kratom story...

Music:

Brendan Behan " Who Fears to Speak of Easter Week "

Risey "Memories of Thailand"

Brendan Behan "The Auld Triangle"

Written and produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com

15. Marketing in a Kratom-Restrictive World with Wade Harman

Kratom Science — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 09:00:18 +0000

My guest is Wade Harman from Richlands, Virginia. Wade is a former coal miner, now a freelance writer, kratom consumer of 18 years, and host of the podcast The Botanical Resistance. We talk about FDA links to big pharma, marketing in a kratom-restrictive social media world, and how Wade survived an opiate addiction with the help of kratom.

Written and produced by Brian Gallagher for KratomScience.com

Music: Risey, "Memories of Thailand"

Wade Harman's podcast, The Botanical Resistance https://botanicals.podbean.com/

Twitter @wadeharman