Hello,

I want to thank you for taking the time to read this. I am a kratom consumer who has completed a bachelor's in cybersecurity and work in software as a vulnerability researcher and security analyst. I may not seem like the face of someone who consumes kratom, but I am and have for 7 years.

I have a pituitary adenoma and high cortisol, which makes simply living with extreme stress a difficult thing. Kratom has enabled me to handle the constant stress and other symptoms that come with it and thrive in an environment and life that shouldn't be possible.

My mother has acute R. Arthritis and kratom has enabled her to be able to be more mobile and walk. Her bad days aren't so bad now, and she is able to take a shower and cook a meal.

There are many people who don't have access or are unable to take normal medications for pain for one reason or another. Many are trying to get away from traditional opioids and opt for a non-opioid plant supplement like kratom. And yes, it is not an opioid. It is a partial opioid-agonist, but so are things like cheese. It won't make you stop breathing like dangerous street drug alternatives like fentanyl.

There have been no confirmed deaths with proper toxicology reports, and many doctors and other medical professionals have come forward to speak on the benefits of kratom, along with disputing the misinformation surrounding it. If kratom is taken away, that is one less potentially life-saving option for those with medical issues. The truth is, people are committing suicide from their misery, and kratom may help people want to live.

We also cannot forget about those who have used it to "kick" harder drugs like heroin and deadly fentanyl. As a vulnerability researcher and security analyst, I calculate risk, and we must use realistic analysis to determine ways for harm reduction. It's the smart and safer thing to do. Yes, there are medicines like methadone and suboxone, but it's not a one size fits all situation. We need as many options as we can if we truly value human life.

In other successful kratom-legal states, there is regulation, and there should be regulation and ways to prevent adulterated products coming into the market. We don't allow people to sell meat from their trunks and people to mix up their own pre-workout in their garages to sell. This applies to supplements like kratom. Please consider looking into the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA) and the American Kratom Association or at the very least allow citizens to access this life-saving plant until smart regulation can be implemented.

Regards,

M Gray