As someone who has struggled with addiction since a young age, kratom has become a saving grace for me. In my teens, I was abusing street pharmaceuticals which lead to alcoholism through my young adulthood. These substances(which all came from legal US institutions mind you) nearly destroyed my life and cost me the peace of mind that I finally enjoy today. With the help of kratom I have managed to be clean from pharmaceuticals and alcohol for 9 and 5 years, respectively. Limiting access would demonize a portion of the population that struggles with addiction that wishes to integrate, and will ultimately drive up disparities caused by addiction. I am not a criminal, I am simply a human wishing to be his best self, and kratom makes this possible for me. I have tried various psychiatric treatments to no avail, nothing they offer is a safety net to addiction. Having access to safer substances is the first step in addressing addiction in our state. If kratom were to be scheduled I may be drawn to drinking again or worse, and it is a genuine fear of mine. You don't enact prohibition on sugary drinks to counter obesity, you offer healthy alternatives and education. In addition, prohibiting kratom will only fuel the black market economy for drugs in our state, increasing crime rates. Remember what happened during the alcohol prohibition? Lawlessness should be something that is actively avoided by the state and not sought out. I do not wish to be a criminal, I am just like you.

Thank you for your time,

Davy Savering