I think this is a real clear example of how these government agencies have become more or less just arms of powerful corporations.
How come all these marshals aren't being put on the street to stop the spread of the illegal sale of prescription narcotics? Maybe because big pharma gets paid either way no matter who's selling their warez?
Could be wrong, but it seems like big pharmas legit competition (IE not street-dealers of narcotics) are the ones getting the most heat. 25,000 pounds of Kratom? Why not 25,000 street dealers peddling Oxy and Methadone?
I believe that it is less a conspiracy to eliminate competition for pharms, and more of another example of lazy police work. They tend to go after the low-hanging fruit. It is much easier to find contraband through customs than it is to gather evidence and round up street dealers.
edit - Plus, one headline with massive amounts of 'harmful new drug fad combined with vague references to rc's' is worth more publicity and back-slapping, than 25,000 individual street-level busts.
This is more realistic and probably rings more true, but at the same time it still fits into what I was implying in a way.
The laws are set up in such a way that it makes more sense to go after something which actually poses more good than harm to the general public and junkies alike, while we've got narcotic abuse running rampant all over the US, and, as far as I can see at least, not much is being done about that except maybe the 'big score' every once in a while, while at the same time Kratom is being relentlessly perused. I can't even find it on the shelves anymore where I used to buy it locally (imported obviously).
Anyway, I barely can keep track of what I'm saying now at this point. Basically, this whole fucking thing is beyond fucked.
I didn't really get the narcotics dealer thing but I'm talking about doctors prescribing pain killers liike Skittles and doctors hooking peole on Methadone for their whole life. All legit and legal.
This may have been true in the past, but now it's near impossible to get prescribed narcotics in most situations. Depending on where you're located it's also extremely difficult to get Methadone or Suboxone treatment. Some people may see this as good, I personally don't. It should be up to each individual how they want to live their life, and if they want to be a law-abiding consumer who has a job and also happens to be addicted to opiates by choice, who the fuck is anyone to stand in their way? At least in America, where opiates are plentiful and readily available.
