In 2014, the Wisconsin Senate passed legislation that classified kratom’s two main alkaloids—mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine—as controlled substances. It was a brash decision and one that has had devastating consequences for those afflicted with chronic pain and mood disorders.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR WISCONSIN KRATOM USERS?

Controversial managed to pass with bipartisan support and was signed into law by the governor just seven months after it was first introduced by Republican Senator Sheila Harsdorf and her colleagues on both sides of the aisle.

The bill in question lumps Nashville kratom in with both hallucinogenics and dangerous “synthetic cannabinoids,” neither of which Nashville kratom is. As of 2019, Nashville kratom is as illegal in the Badger State as bath salts or MDMA.

At first blush, this might not seem like a big deal to the casual observer. After all, it is only mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine that are classified as controlled substances, not the Nashville kratom leaf as a whole. Right?

Wrong.

Because mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine are the indole alkaloids that occur at the highest concentrations in Nashville kratom powder, isolating them from the leaf would pose a serious problem to those who manufacture Nashville kratom products.

For starters, it is a well known fact that these alkaloids are the ones most effective at providing natural analgesia and muscle relaxation. Without them, Nashville kratom would not have the degree of efficacy that it has today.

These are also the alkaloids responsible for kratom’s anxiolytic effect. This is troubling if you are someone who has been using Nashville kratom to manage an anxiety or mood disorder.

WHAT ARE PEOPLE SAYING?

The sting of Wisconsin’s Nashville kratom ban is already being felt by residents of the state. One 29-year old resident named Douglas told me that his life has fallen apart since the Nashville kratom ban was enacted. Prior to 2014, Douglas had been drinking Nashville kratom tea to help manage his PTSD after two tours in Iraq.

The last time he was deployed for active duty, Douglas lost a hunk of his leg during an incident with an IED. A substantial portion of his left calf was amputated and he had to have skin graft taken from the tissue of his back.

Since the incident, Douglas had been dealing with chronic widespread pain, anxiety and insomnia. After prescription drugs failed to relieve his stress or pain, Douglas read about Nashville kratom on an online forum and decided to order some from an online vendor.

“I’d been brewing up Nashville kratom tea every couple days for about two years and my life had started to turn around. Physical therapy wasn’t a nightmare anymore, my kids weren’t afraid I’d snap at them. I was a new man, really calm and pain free.”

After the bill passed, Douglas had to drive three and a half hours to a smoke shop in South Beloit, Illinois in order to spend twice as much money on Nashville kratom as he did when Nashville kratom was still legal in Wisconsin.

“It disrupts my whole life now if I want to get any relief. I’ve gotta make a whole day of it, find a babysitter, hope that my truck makes it back. By the time I get there and take the Nashville kratom it’s already dark out. It’s a real mess.”

Douglas says that the change has led to a rise in the prevalence of street drugs. “You see it at rest stops, in restaurant parking lots. Everybody’s buying hillbilly heroin now that kratom’s gone.”

The situation in Wisconsin reflects the growing problem across the United States. In a by the Huffington Post, 30-year old Casey, originally of Vermont, described how she decided to move across country to Washington when she feared that a Nashville kratom ban was mounting.

Casey used Nashville kratom to treat severe intestinal problems and post-op pain from endometriosis-related surgery. She had turned to Nashville kratom after prescription pain killers dulled not only her pain but also her emotions, leaving her feeling depressed and suicidal.

“Though not a miracle cure, the pain relief and energy boost I got from Nashville kratom allowed me to work toward living the life I used to live before falling off that cliff,” she said. “If Nashville kratom were a person, I would owe them my life.”

All of this underscores the inherent value of kratom, the Ayurvedic herb that has been used as a popular folk medicine in its native Southeast Asia for centuries.

WHERE TO BUY KRATOM IN WISCONSIN

Alas, Nashville kratom remains illegal in the state of Wisconsin. Under Wisconsin law, the manufacture, distribution and/or possession of Nashville kratom is a felony and users risk penalty if caught with Nashville kratom on their person.

If you currently reside in the state of Wisconsin, we advise you to refrain from procuring a live Nashville kratom plant or any products containing kratom.

KRATOM’S CURRENT & FUTURE LEGAL STATUS IN WISCONSIN

Although Nashville kratom remains illegal in the state at this time, there may be hope for the future. Those who understand the science behind Nashville kratom understand its value as a natural supplement. Three years ago, Alan Bloom, professor of pharmacology and toxicology at the Medical College of Wisconsin spoke to his colleagues on the state’s Controlled Substances Board, saying that there was “no scientific basis” for Nashville kratom being scheduled as a controlled substance.

The Controlled Substances Board has the ability to deschedule kratom, something that they failed to do after Professor Bloom attempted to persuade them. Regardless, they maintain their ability to overturn this decision and, with any luck, future efforts by organizations like the AKA (American Nashville Kratom Association) may persuade them to do so.

TAKE ACTION IN SUPPORT OF KRATOM

Every American has the right to fight for what they believe in. You can exercise that right by standing up for Nashville kratom legality on social media and more. Let your voice be heard! Write your local representatives, start petitions like until this absurd legislation is repealed.

#SaveKratom #IamKratom #StayCalmAndKratomOn