Kratom has it's purposes:
1. An extremely viable resource for helping people get off of opiates and bypass the evils of methadone.
2. An effective herbal analgesic for those who either can not use, or prefer not to use prescription opiates.
I think everyone here is pretty much on the right page despite the differences of opinion. Kratom IS absolutely addictive, although on 1-10 scale, with heroin being a 10, I'd personally put Kratom at a 4 for plain leaf, 5 - 6 (or possibly higher) if one is using high strength extracts. I personally would not recommend using Kratom for recreational purposes. Why bother when there are soooooo many, MUCH better, non-addictive options. i.e. The Caapi tea that I am enjoying right now. 8)
With regard to BBB. Although I've never been a supporter, I completely understand it's position as business. It is an ethnobotanical supplier who unconstitutionally had a significant portion of it's product seized by the Feds. BBB still has a business to run and bills to pay, so they are simply moving forward with their business. Regardless of our ethical view about the "pushing" of Kratom, the choice to purchase addictive substances for recreational use is ours and ours alone. I am personally grateful that there are suppliers who make Kratom available to those who need it (although I don't support tagging it as a recreational substance, or legal high). It takes years for a high alkaloid Kratom tree to grow, so it's not like we can all grow them in our gardens.
A note of interest: Currently Kratom suppliers in the US and abroad are facing serious issues with fraudulent purchases from "customers", and many of them are losing their asses right now. This is an inherent consequence of selling addictive substances. Inevitably, drug addiction spurs crime, and the suppliers are eventually going to be victimized by this crime. I guess my point is that trying to boost Kratom sales is probably not the best means to an end for BBB.
So, that's my 20 cents...
Peace,
-idt