DENPASAR – Kratom leaves gaining attention when an Australian was arrested by Denpasar City Police Unit because having crystal meth-type drugs. In this man named Travis James Mcleod (34)’s house, there’s also found a place to mix kratom leaves which are said to have effects like drugs but still sold freely.
Out of curiousity, Wibi Laksana from Kanalbali try to find and buy those leaves. It’s actually easy to get this leaves from the plant with the latin surname Mitragyna speciosa by online. In social media, many shops sell this plant which is claimed to be alternative traditional medicine from Southeast Asia.
“The price is pretty cheap, around Rp30.000-100.000 for the most good one. The color type are various like red, white, green, and yellow,” said Wibi. He decided to buy green kratom leaves powder for Rp40.000. Around three days, those powder was deivered to his home. “Knowing from internet, I tried to brew one teaspoon of kratom powder in the morning, just like herbal medicine,” he tells.
For almost two weeks consuming kratom powder, he felt getting energetic everyday. There’s calming effect that make he relax and focus to finished work. The effects last for five hours, make him calm and soothing his mind. “I didn’t feel addicted or dependent at all. I had been absent to consume for 3 days and my body felt normal, no form of side effects,” he said.
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Once, he was curious to feel the other effects of this plant. He brewed two tablespoons of powdered kratom. About half an hour after drinking it, he felt very drunk. “My body feels light as if it wants to fly. Even the writing or visual images in my brain seem to go in and out indefinitely. I imagined many things at that time, “he said. Maybe it has different effects for another person, but Wibi stated that he anxious to trying kratom powder again. Eventually, this plant still become controversial in public.
Quoted from Wikipedia, every type of kratom have different effects. For safety, the user needs to know which kind of kratom that have effect to relaxation, mentally calming or serious medical purposes. In some cases, this plant is used as a therapy for freedom from opium addiction.
About its legality, The Head of the Center for Food and Drug Control (BBPOM) Denpasar, Ni Gusti Ayu Nengah Suarningsih, said that she didn’t found any rules that included kratom as narcotics class. Based on the Decree of the Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia Number 104 / KPTS / HK.104 / M / 2/2020 concerning Commodities Assisted by the Directorate General of Horticulture, kratom is designated as a category of medicinal plant commodities. “In the attachment, kratom is at number 66,” she stated.
During the investigation at the Denpasar City Police Unit, the compounding of kratom itself was not deepened. “We still investigate the crystal meth-type drugs, but for the kratom itself we still coordinate to related party. We also secure the evidence,” said AKP Mikael Hutabarat, Head of the Denpasar Police Narcotics Unit when interviewed Tuesday (23/11). (Kanalbali/WIB)
