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By Fred Guarino

The Lowndes Signal

Businesses selling products containing two chemical alkaloids derived from the Kratom plant will be violating Alabama Controlled Substance laws, Lowndes County District Attorney Charlotte Tesmer announced Thursday.

Tesmer announced Thursday, “Any business selling any product containing the two chemical alkaloids Mitragynine and Hydromitragynine, which are derived from the Kratom plant grown in Southeast Asia, will be violating Alabama Controlled Substance laws prohibiting the sale, possession, manufacturing or trafficking of controlled substances.”

She said Section 20-2-23 (4) (a) of the Code of Alabama 1975, has been amended by adding the two alkaloids of the plant commonly called Kratom.

According to Tesmer, “In  Alabama, Kratom is commercially available in gas stations and via the internet and is sold under names such as Green Vein, Krishina Green Malay, Krazy Kratom, K Chill, Kali Green Indo, Shiva Red Maeng Da, Phoria, Mitra Red Boreno, Space-K-det, Vita-Lize, Viva-Zen, Rela-K-zpro, K-shot, Dr.K and Matrix, to name a few.”

Tesmer said, “These Kratom products are available as liquid shot bottles, powder, leaves, and pills. The substances may be smoked, taken as a pill, snorted, or brewed in tea.  Promotors of kratom suggest it cures everything from Leukemia to ADHD, but no FDA approval or scientific studies prove any such claim.”