Searching for forbidden treasure
From the results of a study by the National Narcotics Laboratory Center of the National Narcotics Agency quoted by FMM, the kratom plant is still in the same family as the rubiacea (coffee) plant that thrives in Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Papua New Guinea. Kratom trees normally grow to a height of 4-9 meters, but some can reach 15-30 meters.
Since hundreds of years ago, kratom leaves are traditionally used as herbal medicine. In Bengkulu, the leaves are processed by the community as a medicine to relieve stomach pain, diarrhea, swelling, and headaches. In West Sulawesi, kratom is used to treat bloody bowel movements and ulcers. In East Kalimantan, the bark of the kratom tree is commonly used to smooth the face. While the leaves are used for postpartum care (after giving birth), relieving fatigue and aches and pains. Meanwhile, in several other countries in Southeast Asia, kratom leaves are used to heal wounds, treat intestinal worms, relieve pain, reduce high blood pressure, diabetes, dysentery and as a substitute for opium.
Kratom leaves contain compounds that are harmful to health so that if used in low doses it will cause a stimulant effect, while use in high doses can cause a sedative effect (causing calm or drowsiness, slumbering to severe loss of consciousness, anesthesia, coma and death."
The majority of kratom tree fields are located in Pontianak, Ngabang, Kubu Raya, Kapuas Hulu and Ketapang (West Kalimantan). Nearly 80 percent of West Kalimantan's area or about 42,201 hectares are fertile wet fields for kratom plants. 90 percent of kratom leaves are exported to America, Europe and some Asian countries. Almost 70 percent of rubber farmers or fishermen in Kapuas Hulu Regency have switched their livelihoods by planting kratom.
The price of wet kratom leaves is between IDR 6,000-8,000 per kg, crumbs IDR 18,000-26,000 per kg, fine powder IDR 40,000-45,000 per kg and if exported the price reaches IDR 100,000 per kg. Indonesia is a major exporter of kratom to the United States. Within a month, 400 tons of kratom were sold to the American market.
Behind the many benefits, according to laboratory test results, kratom leaves contain mitraginin and 7-hydroxymitraginine compounds which have strong affinity for opioid receptors. This compound can be said to be 13 times stronger than morphine. It also contains alkaloids which have narcotic sedative stimulant effects such as cocaine and morphine.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has included the kratom tree as a new type of drug or New Psychoactive Substance (NPS) since 2013. In the same year, the ASEAN Harmonization Session in the field of traditional medicine and food supplements classified all parts of the kratom tree as prohibited for consumption. Because, consuming kratom has the effect of dependence, euphoria, hallucinations and is toxic to the nervous system.
Kratom leaves contain compounds that are harmful to health so that if used in low doses it will cause a stimulant effect, while use in high doses can cause a sedative effect, cause calm or drowsiness, sleep to severe loss of consciousness, anesthesia, coma and death. Mufti Djusnir, head of the National Narcotics Laboratory Center at the National Narcotics Agency, said as reported by Antara, November 5, 2019.
Countries that have banned kratom are Australia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Denmark, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Finland and Ireland. In the United States, there are only 43 states that still legalize kratom. However, kratom is legal in the UK, Austria, Belgium, Greece, Brazil, Hungary, Ireland, the Netherlands.
How about in Indonesia? The Food and Drug Administration (BPOM) prohibits the use of kratom in traditional medicines and health supplements through the Circular Letter of the Head of BPOM Number HK.04.4.42.421.09.16.1740 of 2016 which was signed by the Deputy for Supervision of Traditional Medicines, Cosmetics and Complementary Products, Ondri Dwi Sampurno on September 30, 2016.
The National Committee for Changes in the Classification of Narcotics and Psychotropics which was formed based on the Letter of the Minister of Health numbered HK.01.07/MENKES/372/2017 decided to ban the use of kratom. The Head of the Indonesian National Narcotics Agency, Komjen Heru Winarko then issued a Circular Letter numbered B/3985/X/KA/PL.02/2019/BNN regarding a statement of support for the decision of the national committee on the classification of narcotics and psychotropics which clarified that the kratom plant is a Class I narcotic which is not classified as a narcotic. may be used in media or health with a five-year transition period.
However, the technicalities related to the ban on the circulation of kratom leaves are still in the process of being discussed.