West Kalimantan Governor Bang Midji Requests No More Ban On The Use Of Kratom Plants

West Kalimantan Governor Sutarmidji (right) attended a symposium entitled "Kratom Sustainability" which was attended by US Senator Curt Bramble, Indonesian Kratom Association, Yohanes Cianes Walean, American Kratom Association in Pontianak/ANTARA/Rendra Oxtora

PONTIANAK - The Governor of West Kalimantan, Sutarmidji, asked that there be no ban on the use of the kratom plant for the next 15 years, until there is a valid research result on one of the plants that has export potential in the province.

"I hope there is no ban on kratom, at least the next 15 years. Until there are valid research results, because when K

Kratom has become an export commodity, of course the country wants certainty about the import of kratom," said Sutarmidji or familiarly called Bang Midji in Pontianak as reported by ANTARA, Saturday, August 13.

He explained that kratom that thrives in wet land, such as in the Sentarum Lake nature conservation area, Kapuas Hulu Regency, does have a high addictive substance, but does not make the wearer hallucinate.

"For this reason, related to the kratom problem, it should not only be seen from one side, even this plant can also be used for therapy for narcotics addicts. The benefits of kratom have also been included in the category of medicinal plants listed in the Decree of the Minister of Agriculture," he said. .

To discuss more deeply about plants that have promising export potential, previously, Sutarmidji conveyed various things related to the benefits of this plant at a symposium entitled "Kratom Sustainability" which was attended by the United States Senator, Curt Bramble, and a team from the United States, the Indonesian Kratom Association, Yohanes Cianes Walean, American Kratom Association, Mac Haddow in Pontianak, Friday, August 12.

Bang Midji said the most important thing is that there must be research because the substances contained in kratom have compounds with substances in the body, so they can be neutral.

He is optimistic that the ban on Kratom in 2023 cannot be realized until there is a solution.

"Because in the current condition, we have to think about how to maintain the community's economy, namely by regulating the sales method properly, through the trade system so that business actors can control their marketing," said Sutarmidji.

"The study is expected to continue to be carried out in order to obtain valid and scientifically justifiable conclusions," he said.