New York hands Grateful Toad store court order to stop alleged sale of kratom
New York hands Grateful Toad store court order to stop alleged sale of kratom
PLATTSBURGH, New York (Legal Newsline) — New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman has announced a consent order and judgment against The Grateful Toad store to stop it from stocking allegedly mislabeled or unlabeled products.
The consent order was signed by Judge John T. Ellis, Supreme Court, Franklin County. It specifically bans the Saranac Lake store from selling the botanical drug kratom. In addition, it mandates owner Jason S. Ashley to pay $12,000 in penalties and costs.
“The proliferation of illegal designer drugs is a national health crisis that is hurting New York families and communities, and my office has successfully stopped more than 20 head shops across our state from selling these dangerous drugs,” Schneiderman said. “My office will continue to employ every weapon in our arsenal to combat the growing and dangerous designer drug epidemic.”
The designer drug kratom, which the store allegedly sold in e-liquid, capsule and tea powder forms, is a highly potent plant with opiate-like effects that’s banned even in its own country of origin.
Assistant attorney general Christopher J. Fleury of the Attorney General’s Plattsburgh Regional Office, and assistant attorney general in-charge Deanna Nelson of the Attorney General’s Watertown Regional Office handled the case.
I just want to inform people of my personal situation in hopes of educating more people on this herb. Kratom is a leaf that comes from Southeast Asia. It is related to the coffee plant. I am a 38 year old single mother of 2 and I own my own business in cosmetology. I have suffered from anxiety and depression for the last 25 years. I have been prescribed many medications to treat this and to no avail. While on these legally prescribed meds I was worthless. Usually too tired or suffering from many side effect like tremors, weight gain, muscle pain, headaches, and nausea to name a few. I would hardly have the energy to do my daily chores, work or take care of my kids like I should’ve. About 8 months ago, my friend introduced me to kratom as she had found it was helping her fibromyalga pain better than any prescription she had. She gave me a sample and after an hour I knew this was going to be a great help. The fog lifted and I felt amazing. I immediately ordered some and began taking it on a daily basis just like my vitamins. I quit my prescription meds within the week which saves me $130 a month that I didn’t have anyway. After 8 months I can tell you I feel healthier than I have in 15 years plus. I have energy to get everything I need to done. I have no pain and no other side effects. There is no “high” to kratom. It gives me a clean, healthy, positive feeling like I would imagine a normal healthy person should feel. My kids have their mother back and my life is great now. I am not looking for other drugs as I used to trying to make the pain go away. I don’t have suicidal thoughts anymore. I am finally living! PLEASE do your research into this herb before writing your news stories and be fair to all sides. There are fakes out there and I know that those thing can be full of nasty stuff. But true kratom poses no danger to anyone except maybe a little constipation honestly.