I DO NOT SUPPORT THE PETITION TO MAKE KRATOM A SCHEDULE I CRIMINAL SUBSTANCE!!

Please, do not amend 18VAC110-20-322 that includes mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, the active alkaloids found in kratom in Schedule I.

I have been taking Kratom for 13 years with only positive results and no negative side effects.  I am a Registered Nurse with a Masters degree and I suffered a work related injury in 1989. The injury left me disabled with a spinal cord disease, among other injuries, including severe, intractable, and chronic pain.  I was on many Schedule I narcotics.  I was on bedrest and the medications made me semi-conscious.  I was miserable!!  In 2011 I had an accidental drug overdose and to my good fortune, I got detoxed off of all my Schedule I narcotics.

In late 2011 I discovered Kratom and my life flourished!!  Kratom has helped my pain so much so that it has allowed me to get out of bed, out of my house and even drive to visit family and friends!  My pain level went from a 10+ to a 2 when I found Kratom!  I honestly felt like I had found a miracle in kratom!  Everyone wanted to know what I had done to change my life.  It really was life changing!!

I have had No side effects from using Kratom.  I cannot tell you how afraid I am that kratom may become a Schedule I drug and I will have to go back to taking narcotics once again with the horrible side effects, leaving me hold up at home on bed rest , not able to enjoy life.  This is one of those things that you will truly never understand unless you have lived in their shoes!

Kratom has helped so many people like me with all different problems like PTSD, Addiction , Emotional problems, Chronic Pain, etc. without incident.  Kratom is like so many other products, it needs to be taken using unadulterated  kratom for those 18 years of age and up.   Take a look at alcohol or tobacco, both are highly addictive, both can be deadly-why are these not petitioned for Schedule I drugs?  How many people have they killed?  How many people has kratom killed?  It just doesn’t make sense.  Why are you taking a substance that is a plant that has very few side effects and does so much good for so many?  I have found that many people that know nothing about kratom other than what they read or hear through the grapevine.  Most of that information is negative information.  I implore you to do your due diligence and really research kratom and you will find that it does help people and the majority of people are taking kratom for a specific reason, not to just take it.

Please, do NOT support the petition to make Kratom a Schedule I Criminal Substance!!

Thank you for your support!