I have included kratom in my daily life for 10 years. After the birth of my children I not only suffered chronic joint pain, but debilitating anxiety, and soul crushing depression. I struggled to get out of bed. I saw so many doctors that all tried me on antidepressants, pain medicines, and countless potentially habit forming medications . Kratom has helped me no longer be on any of those medications, but increased the quality of my life drastically. I am able to be the mom my kids deserve. I can go to work regularly, and  help take some of the financial burden off my husband. Before kratom,  my mental health wouldn’t allow me to be the person I used to be. It’s given my children a better mother, my husband a better wife (and partner), and helped give myself the ability to be the person I know that I am. Banning kratom is irresponsible and forces good, hardworking members of society back into a life consumed with struggling , and a dependence on harmful (and potentially dangerous) medications.