Mitragyna speciosa, also known as kratom, is a tropical deciduous and evergreen tree in the coffee family (Rubiaceae) native to Southeast Asia in the Indochina and Malaysia floristic regions. M. speciosa is indigenous to Thailand where it has been used in traditional medicine. Its leaves are used for a variety of potential medicinal effects, but mainly to manage pain and/or anxiety and alcohol dependence. Though not an opiate itself, kratom is thought to behave similarly to a μ-opioid receptor agonist like morphine, and thus is used for managing chronic pain.
After a sweeping ban on herbal highs such as Ecstasy clones and cocaine etc this natural growing leaf has now been banned in the UK leaving thousands of people who are in chronic pain left to either start taking Opioid based pain killers, alcohol, marijuana or something even stronger. This leaf is also responsible for helping ease the withdrawal of the Opioid pain killers (Codeine, Tramadol) and even Heroin. I believe this has been unfairly banned and should't be involved or even put in the same category as those dangerous manufactured herbal highs, so i am asking people who use Kratom or anyone who agree's with this to please sign this petition and stand up against the government decision on banning a natural growing leaf.
