Kratom group accuses coroner, DEA of ‘shadow campaign’
TUPPER LAKE — The American Kratom Association has implicated Franklin County Coroner Shawn Stuart in what it refers to as a “shadow campaign” by the Drug Enforcement Agency to libel the plant’s reputation; Stuart believes the claim is absurd.
A press release from the association states, “AKA is deeply concerned that the agency [DEA] may also be seeking to encourage findings of kratom in death reports from coroners and medical examiners.”
Kratom, a legal Southeast Asian plant, is in the coffee family and produces opioid-like effects, which has earned it a controversial reputation. Despite that, thousands of bodybuilders, pain-sufferers and heroin users in recovery use the plant every day and rely on its legality.
The AKA has always taken the position that it is impossible to overdose on kratom so when Stuart released a coroner’s report in September saying that Sgt. Matthew Dana died of an overdose of mitragynine, the active compound in kratom, advocates for the plant nation-wide responded in force.
In an effort to clear kratom’s name, the association has filed a Freedom of Information Act request for the coroner’s report, held a national conference call with doctors defending kratom’s legality and issued a press release claiming there are repeated signs the DEA is waging a “shadow campaign” against kratom by misleading law enforcement, journalists, legislators, the general public and coroners.
The un-sourced evidence provided for that last claim states, “There have been public reports of coordination between the two otherwise widely separated New York and Florida medical offices,” referring to the similarities between Dana’s report and one of Christopher Waldron in Hillsborough County, Florida.
Previous press releases from the AKA have also implied Dana used steroids without evidence that he did outside of him being a body builder.
“There was no discussion about the use of injectable anabolic steroids by the decedent in New York, and the possible association with hemorrhagic pulmonary edema from the use of such steroids,” said the Oct. 3 release titled “Volunteers Needed to Protect Kratom.”
There currently is no evidence that Dana used anabolic steroids and there has also not been confirmation as to whether or not these substances were tested for.
An article titled “Report finds ‘rush to judgment’ in kratom deaths” by the editor of Pain News Network, a website covering chronic pain and pain management, states that, “Dana was a police sergeant and bodybuilder, who reportedly used steroids as part of his bodybuilding program.”
Again, while Dana was a bodybuilder, there is no evidence thus far that he was using steroids.
An ongoing state police investigation into kratom and Dana’s death should reveal more information.
Stuart said the idea of participating in a “shadow campaign” is ridiculous, but kratom advocates say his report is suspect.
Filed under: General Problems
Again,,I was told long ago,,by a man who worked for the government,,,;The government never ever tells thee public the truth,,,ever..There is always a twist,a lie,a fabrication somewhere.
U know,,our four fathers had access to all these plants in their natural form..There were not illegal at all,,,,and gee,,,they founded this country ,wrote thee most ethical,moral document on this planet,,,whilst having access to these so-called ,’terrible drugs,”..I say thee only people being terrible,,liers,and arrogance lieful ass’s,,,ON OUR DIME,, is the United States of America;s government,,,,
Geez even Thomas Jefferson grew his own poppy’s,,for they were/should be seen as perfectly legal in their natural form…Meaning adults took responsibility for their own treatment and had access to the plants to do so…However 1982-ish,,the DEA had thee corrupted arrogance to walk on our founding fathers home,,and pull out all his poppy flowers,,The dea stated that Thomas Jeffersons garden had ,”drugs,” in the garden,,,not a plant or a flower
Wake up people,,,this is no-longer,,”we the peoples,” country anymore,,,,maryw
Follow the Money….
BINGO,,I DID TODAY,,,AND FOUND OUT EXACTLY WHERE /WHO,AND HOW ITS GOING TOOOOOO,,,maryw