Now, the FDA is trying to ban kratom. It's a plant from SE Asia. It's effective for pain (as effective as oxycodone, IMO), it helps people get off and stay off opiates. It tastes like (as the Liberal Redneck put it) wood elf cum. I don't know about that, but I think it's worse. The FDA says it's deadly and addictive. The only reported deaths were people who took a shitload of other drugs, and I've been addicted to nicotine and felt the pull of oxy (but was well managed).
They can't ban the plant, so they're trying to prevent importation.

In short, it helps people, it does make you feel good, but I wouldn't call it a "high", it's not dangerous, and it's cheap. So drug companies can't make money from it.

Sound familiar?

I never liked weed much, so it wasn't worth the risk, and it provoked paranoia. Last time I took it, I actually hallucinated. That NEVER happened in the 70s! Kinda cool, kinda annoying. The munchies are a bitch when you have GERD, and probably if you're on a low-stuff or no-stuff diet. I'm thinking salt-free kale chips aren't all that exciting. Plus, I think it's harder to find. Hell, I'd love to try mushrooms, but do you think any old farts I hang with are into that shit? Sometimes, I regret not having kids. "Sweetie, would you go out and buy momma some 'shrooms? Momma's friends say they give 'em gas, and there's nothing as scary as psychedelic farts."