Marine Veteran who has been taking kratom supplements since 2015.

Kratom has been nothing but beneficial to me over the years it helps me with my service disability/difficulties with out the side effects caused by meds I was prescribed over the years.

By scheduling it you would be doing nothing but harm to all of the people it helps

Kratom has been a blessing for me! I have suffered with chronic scoliosis pain for 30 years. This is one of the few things that give me relief. I have tried acupuncture, floatation therapy, chiropractic,medial branch nerve blocks, opioids, gabapentin and on and on.

Things work for a short time and then they don't. Red Vein Kratom gives me very good pain relief, it's inexpensive and readily available.

I consulted with my physician about Kratom and she gave me the go ahead to use it. She knows I am responsible with meds and she feels this herb has merit.

My name is Chris and I am a retired Green Beret.

I retired from the Army with 11 deployments. I’ve been deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Oman. Including myself, I’ve seen my share of wounded and injured veterans. While the injuries happened in many ways, one thing that was consistent was the over prescribing of opiate pain killers. Opiate pain killers have destroyed more lives than I can count, and I bet every combat veteran you’ll talk to can name at least one person who has died from opiates or have committed suicide from the pit of despair that opiates cause.

I have personally seen Kratom help veteran’s get over opiate addictions. I don’t know what the long term answer is to the opiate crisis, but I know Kratom works. Please reconsider banning it. Some states have regulated it to make sure adulterants aren’t used. Please consider the course of action the AKA recommends instead of an outright ban.

I’ve been using Kratom for over two years now to help with debilitating arthritis pain. It’s been more than helpful with this and doesn’t interfere with other daily activities. It’s a safer alternative than relying more on Opioids.

Kratom has been a blessing to this pain sufferer. It’s effects are not unlike a couple cups of strong coffee, as Kratom is in the coffee family, only instead of jitters you get pain relief and a mild uplift in mood.

As a Senior Citizen I’ve discovered that the challenges of life become more difficult with each passing year. Kratom has been a pleasant offset. What should we ban next, French Roast

I take Kratom for stress and anxiety relief.

I would hate for a natural product such as Kratom to be taken away from responsible Kratom users in Connecticut.

Kratom has been a Godsend and has helped me immensely. I have a high stress, high demand job and use Kratom daily

Over eight years ago, I fell down the steps at an apartment complex. That fall changed my life. I developed severe TMJ and carpal tunnel in both wrists. For two years, I couldn’t talk, eat, smile, or sleep. My jaws were locked completely shut — and despite seeing many surgeons, none could put my jaws back into place.

No pain pills worked. I lived every day in agony, as if I had been punched in the face. The inside of my left jaw was torn up, ended up with cleft tongue, and I even lost two molars because of the pressure and damage. Sleeping was the worst part. I was miserable in severe pain around the clock.

Then I came across kratom — and it completely changed my life for the better. Kratom relaxed the muscles in my body and, in turn, released the tension in my jaw. Within about 15 minutes, I could start to open my mouth — for the first time in over two years. Soon, I had full movement again. I could talk, smile, and finally eat.

Now I take a different strain at night to help me sleep — and it even stops my restless legs. I was once told I needed surgery on both wrists. Not anymore. They no longer fall asleep or throb with pain at night thanks to kratom.

And here’s the bonus: I no longer drink alcohol at all. I have no desire for it — how bad could something be if it takes away that urge?

Kratom has been nothing but a blessing to me. I could never go back to the life I lived before.

Even my doctors are amazed at the transformation in my face and overall health. My doctors from before said this is the best I have ever looked. It is all thanks to kratom.

Now, I only used clean tested powder.

Dr Christopher McCurdy believes that raw kratom powder will be what will safely help people get off of opioids. He has been studying kratom since 2004.

Please don't ban kratom powder. You take it away from me for 2 1/2 weeks, then my jaws start to go right back into the same bad direction it was 6 years ago. Please listen to my story & PLEASE don't banned kratom

Kratom helped me quit heroin.

Without Kratom I don't know where I'd be.

Stop regulating my health Connecticut!

I have been using Kratom for pain management and achieving a quality of life I never thought possible. It all started roughly 4 years ago, I was working a construction job, where I was injured on a job site, and have since been dealing with pain that has made just daily living a chore. As you may have just noticed, I called living a "chore" which is a truly terrifying statement but that is how it felt after I came to realization that I would have to deal with a certain level of pain for the rest of my life with no hope for alternative or therapeutical solutions. After completing physical therapy, steroid injections, everything short of the recommended surgery; has helped to a degree but ultimately not made my quality of life pain free and enjoyable. Enter, Kratom, Once I had heard of this herbal supplement I had decided I had nothing to lose giving it a chance. Much to my disbelief this remedy worked, it had provided me something that no other attempted solution was able to provide me. Substantial and effective pain relief. Better yet, I did not have stress and hassle our already overwhelmed health care industry and providers, who I know have bigger and more important things to deal with then trying to allot an hour for an appointment for something as often abused as "pain management."

As someone who works with addiction and has experienced addiction first hand at the grasp of alcohol. I do believe Kratom should be one of the many Harm reduction options we offer individuals on top of the choices they already have. Methadone, Suboxone, and the IM or IV variants of those medications are all great at harm reduction but also come at a cost as well. Withdrawal and dependence is very much still a reality for the individuals that use those remedies and has been understood that those are still preferred treatments as opposed to full blown opiate addiction. Truth be told, there are not many substances on this planet that do not have some form of addictive traits or come without a withdrawal period, and it is true that Kratom is not free of those either. But, instead of casting fear and banning substances and supplements we do not truly understand, we should be offering and providing education about those same substances. As a consenting adult I do believe it is our decision as to what we put into our bodies, but I do believe that consent can only be given once the individual has been fully educated about all the negatives they may experience as a result of using said substance/supplement and then should weight those cons versus the pros they believe they receive.

Something I do very much fear will become a reality as a result of the banning of Kratom is an even bigger opiate abuse and overdose endemic. We have sadly already seen this happen once when opiate prescription medications were cut back on by doctors who had to face increased scrutiny from the DEA. When people, like myself, have found something so life changing and come to rely on this new quality and standard of life and then suddenly being told that they can no longer use what has helped them will instill a panic. As a result of that panic, many will go to any lengths to reclaim what they once experienced, and sadly, as many individuals will not take the time to educate themselves, they may find that illicit street drugs, such as fentanyl, heroin, etc. (all which actually have their place in the medical field especially when administered by trained professionals in hospitals.) Sadly, the street variants of these substances have no quality control and no transparency on what the individual is actually ingesting. This will lead to an exponential increase in overdoses all based off of the decision and result of this hearing. I implore you, as someone who hopes to speak out for those who may not be able to speak for themselves, and as someone who partakes in the use of Kratom. Do not restrict or ban the manufacturing, selling, or consumption of Kratom. It has changed my life for the better, and with proper education, I truly believe it can change many other individuals lives for the better as well

I’m 74 yrs old with spinal stenosis and hip dysplasia I am a retired special education teacher as well.

Kratom helps me get through days when I have physical activities I must do.

I am able to exercise and walk a lot more with help from kratom. With my chronic pain subsided I am less likely to fall

Kratom, in its natural form, is the only substance that's consistently cured my flus and colds.

Banning it would encourage a flood of more dangerous alternatives, and crimes that follow any such prohibition

I have used Kratom daily since 2015, and it has been an effective and SAFE remedy for chronic pain (e.g. spinal disk herniation).

PLEASE DO NOT SCHEDULE this 100% NATURAL and SAFE plant-based analgesic

Back in 2019 I was ripped off my FDA approved pain medication. Never had problems with over taking those meds... just left to deal with severe pain from Fibromyalgia, Takayasu Arteritis, Rheumatoid arthritis... numerous fused disc's in my neck and space between my lower spinal disc's. I had no where to turn. Unless of course if I wanted a Glorified Nurse lie about my need for relief from pain and list me as a "Drug Seeker" and have a Clinic put me on Suboxone (hardest opioid to get off of) (Not FDA approved for Pain). So I spoke with friends and people that work in the Kratom Industry and nearly 1 1/2 year after being abandoned by my Doctor, i am able to do tasks. I am able to walk (something I could not do without my FDA Approved Opiods), I am able to help with a disabled Family member. I am able to stand in the Kitchen and cook., I am able to shop and spend time with my elderly mother. Chores get done. I am not so angry at my pain. Never once have I gotten "High" or "stoned" off of Kratom. I have been able to live in a state, that left Chronic Pain Patients Behind. So if you take Kratom away from hard working people, that just want the ache to subside, I will assume that no one in the Connecticut "State and Government " are for the people

I have been off opiates and all prescription drugs for 4 years and counting thanks for whole leaf Kratom. I go through only $40 worth every month and has greatly improved my quality of life.

Without it I would surely be back on pharmaceuticals if not illegal opiates again.

Please leave whole leaf powder alone and go after the lab made 7 hydroxy tablets that ARE dangerously addictive and extremely expensive

I have been using Kratom daily for my Mental health (primarily Social Anxiety) and as a secondary treatment for Fibromyalgia) Im a responsible user and only take small doses. For me I will most likely scale back my hours as Kratom will not be available in CT for too much longer. This ban is out of fear rather than Science. It is just like Marijuana,  in that there is no fatal dose. Please keep this plant legal, or regulate it as CT does with Recreational Marijuana

Kratom has helped me with severe pain and fatigue from a chronic illness, fir 8 years s- better than any pharmaceutical ever has, and with less side effects of medicines. I do not experience side effects from this tea leaf, nor have I ever had withdrawal symptoms when not taking it. Without it, I find it extremely difficult to manage my household and work my job due to excrutiating pain and lack of energy. I purchase from reputable vendors who test their product to ensure its purity.  Kratom has also helps so many other consumers with the same challenges, as well as helping with withdrawal symptoms from addiction. I urge this tea leaf to remain legal in CT so consumers do not have to find other means to control their symptoms

I’ve been an avid kratom fan for over 9 years and it has helped more more than anything else. I am recovering heroin addict and spent 10 years on it. Once I found Kratom and did all my research I was able to successfully get off heroin and been 9 year clean off it and I have Kratom to thank for a big part of that accomplishment.

I only use Kratom powder and that’s enough for me. I am aware of that 7-Oh pandemic and I am fully against 7-OH, it is way too strong and just like anything else in this world it can be abused. 7-OH has given kratom such a bad reputation even though they are 2 different things, Kratom always gets lumped into the 7-OH stuff.

Kratom is safe, pure 7-OH is not!!! Please don’t take away this wonderful plant from people who use it responsibly and who benefit from its medicinal qualities.