To Whom It May Concern, 

 Please do not ban kratom in any way! It’s become an important tea leaf for so many adult Americans, including veterans. However, I fully support regulation needs like age restrictions for 18/21+.

My name is Bekkah, I’m a married mom of 4 boys (& 1 bonus daughter!) In Maine. I’m a makeup artist, webmaster, & marketing manager. I have also found Genealogy to be a an amazing hobby of mine & my boys, we also love playing outside which takes a lot out of me.

  I’ve been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, degenerative disc disease, radiculopathy, & most recently, I’ve been suffering from nerve damage after a bout of Lyme disease in 2021 - I have not been well since & it’s taken a lot for me to continue to be a productive member of society.

 I consume kratom like a tea & it has helped me immensely over the years. I feel like I can function, be a mom, have less pain, & some semblance of a quality of life - especially now that doctors in our overtaxed healthcare system have failed to help me. Quite frankly, many doctors are too scared to help pain patients these days. They fear being arrested or losing their licenses & livelihoods. There's too many of us suffering right now.

 I proudly work in the kratom industry for a small, family-owned company who really cares about our community. They lab test our products, package products in a clean packing area, & so many other things to follow industry standards. We also offer the online & local community assistance during emergencies, food in our community garden, & often host “open house style” gathers to educate on kratom & herbs.

I can also tell you that most of our customers are age 30 or older. Many of them work & have physically demanding jobs, are married & just trying to provide for their families. I know this because I have been in customer service here for nearly 10 years, talking to people online & by phone.I’ve seen the good it can do in myself, many members of my family, & friends - all with very little side effects & I have yet to see any major health differences in any of my routine labs over the years.

 Once again, I implore you to please not ban or restrict adult kratom consumption & instead consider an age restriction. Thank you.