How To Identify It and Where it Grows

The kratom tree can grow to heights of 15-20 meters, has pointy leaves, and is native to Southeast Asian countries. It is commonly found in Bali, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Borneo. Though it is also native to Thailand, the Thai government banned kratom in 1939. It was not banned due to any ill effects to health but primarily because it hit their pocketbooks which were previously overflowing from the large scale opium trade (which was taxed). People learned that without the high price from the government tax, kratom offered the pain relieving effects similar to those one gets from opiates.