Kratom has supported my life in reducing my symptoms related to depression and anxiety.

It has profoundly changed my life for the better

I have been taking kratom since after having my 2nd son. I was on several different medications suffering from postpartum depression. All the medicine I took caused terrible side effects and even caused suicidal thoughts. I researched for months natural ways to heal. I came across kratom. I gave it a try the end of 2018. I was surprised that it really helped me feel normal again. Not only did I get my life back, but it's lessened my anxiety and helped me be more hands on and active with my busy life of being a boy mom.

This natural herb has truly given me a second chance and I no longer have any suicidal thoughts. And I was surprised to find that it has greatly helped my pain from degenerative disc disease and knee pain. I haven't touched a pain pill since 2016 after I had a surgery. This is another big win for me and having kratom in my life. I do believe it's very important that it's regulated though, meaning the botanical companies must supply lab results to it's consumers. But banning it will really cause more harm than good for those of us who take it to better our lives.

I have been a professor of philosophy for over 35 years now. For two decades, I have been using Kratom to help with my chronic pain-- my degenerative disc disease, scoliosis, and neck stenosis. For those of us who need kratom to function, to be a family caretaker, a worker, a community member, we see kratom as a food-- a supplement like any other that you take to maximize your well-being. I can envision a scenario in which I would lose my life without being able to take kratom. I am so afraid to take pharmaceutical opiates in its place, especially as, unlike Kratom, they do not work for my pain anyway. Only Kratom does, as it does for so many. I fear what I would have to do, what I would be forced to do, should the means by which so many of us achieve well-being be taken away. It seems unjust to criminalize a natural plant that genuinely benefits people. Would you ban other coffee derivatives? Or ibuprofen, or a supplement that helps cancer patients? It's all the same premise. The science is overwhelmingly clear that Kratom is a safe and effective remedy. I am so scared. I know other Iowans who are scared. Please, please, we must beg of you, and appeal to your good reason to see to it that kratom is not criminalized in any sense. Please, please.. And thank you for your consideration. Please listen to those who take and use Kratom wisely. It is a genuine lifesaver.

As a former prosecutor, legislator, and three-time back surgery patient, I urge you to avoid the "precision paradox." Lawmakers often use over-inclusive language for unfamiliar substances, but Scheduling I Kratom will inadvertently drive Iowans toward addictive opioids or lethal fentanyl.

This move effectively subsidizes Big Pharma—companies like Purdue and Johnson & Johnson—by criminalizing a natural alternative they cannot patent. If mortality is the metric, alcohol and tobacco should be Schedule I. Instead of a blanket ban, institute age limits.

Do not let legislative caution create unintended consequences that punish patients and reward the opioid industry

My name is Michael. I was a severe alcoholic and pain medication abuser for many years. I found Kratom six years ago. I have a productive life now. Through kratom. I use it just like coffee. It helps my overall well-being. I speak of the raw leaf powder.

We need regulations put in place yes but don’t ban it. It’ll just lead to more banning and it’s a natural organic tree that is basically a tea and Has no jitter like coffe, it’s his cousin”.

DescriptioI am currently living in SD, but I am from Iowa, my entire family lives in Iowa, and I spend 2 or 3 weeks a year visiting Iowa and own property there as well. Banning Kratom would cause me to reconsider travelling and doing business with the state of Iowa, as well as harm my family living there and myself.

Kratom has greatly helped me keep clean of alcohol and other narcotics. It is no more potent than a cup of coffee while providing relief to those with alcohol and opiod addictions.

Banning kratom would turn me into a criminal. In the thirty minutes it took to write this, 10 Americans died of alcohol use disorder complications. Why take away something that is helping people stay away from far more dangerous, completely legal drugs like alcohol?n goes here

I have used kratom daily for 10 years. I am able to function at a higher level then without.

Kratom has brought stability into my life allowing me to care for others.

I am a survivor of childhood Acute Lymphatic Leukemia and the numerous surgeries that followed, including a full bilateral hip surgery at age 15 that required 18 months of recovery.

While I survived the illness, chemotherapy left me with necrotic joint and nerve damage. The resulting chronic pain made it incredibly difficult to maintain employment or manage everyday tasks. I struggled with depression, and eventually found myself overusing Tylenol and Ibuprofen as a short-term solution. Even though I am allergic to them—which resulted in internal bleeding—that risk felt preferable to the crippling pain.

After seeking help from numerous doctors without relief, I discovered Kratom. It has truly saved my career, my sanity, and my quality of life by allowing me to function at nearly full capacity. Kratom is a godsend for those suffering from nerve and joint damage or any acute pain that is difficult to manage. I have even recommended it to others who were unable to find relief elsewhere. Without it, I would not be able to maintain a normal life."

Kratom has helped me stay away from alcohol and turn my life around. It improves mood and ease anxiety.

We grew a loving community in our town in Iowa. This doesn’t need to be banned. Alcohol is much worse for you than kratom”.

I am 69 years old and have used kratom responsibly for many years without experiencing any negative health or social effects.

Considering the well-established harm caused by alcohol, tobacco, and vaping products that remain legal and widely available, it is difficult to justify restricting a herbal product that many law-abiding adults have used safely for years.

Sensible regulation is reasonable; an outright ban is not

I am here to share my journey. February 21 st. I celebrated 10 years off of Opiods. If it weren't for kratom. I know for a fact it wouldn't have happened. Although it was months down the road after going through detox and withdrawal that I found kratom.

I would have benefited so much more with it in the beginning too. It is natural and helps me live life. I'm a mother of two amazing little girls. I'm a new person . My health is the best it's ever been. I'm down 143 pounds since 2023. I'm celebrating 2 years sober in July from alcohol.

It's been a amazing journey

I am 39 years old and I have been taking Kratom for about six years and I enjoy it. As a keyboardist at 6'5", with the passion for writing music since my childhood, I have since developed poor posture causing me upper back pain. Especially while working full time and long hours with heavy steel.

I am on the mild spectrum of Asperger's Syndrome - I have anxiety and depression. I was prescribed a low dose medication for these - which I no longer take.

I am not a big drinker and I have never done any drugs. I consume 2 grams (2 capsules) at once, 2 times per day, but no more than 3 times per day.

I would venture to say that stories I hear about problems with overdosing and what not are usually people that are or have done drugs, or are in some state-of-mind looking for an equal or greater "replacement", giving Kratom a "bad name" or, those who aren't responsible as with anything else.

I sure hope that I can continue to live and feel "normal", and slowly, but carefully share Kratom benefits and information with others intuitively"!

I have osteonecrosis in BOTH of my knees. I’m 41 and already need a double knee replacement. Kratom has helped me immensely!

I use Kratom so I don’t have to rely on narcotic pain killers. It gets me through my day so I can be there for my husband and 3 kids.

Please do not ban kratom as it is a useful and natural way to combat opiate addiction. It is generally safe and I know many people who use it daily to stay away from other drugs and prescription pills.

It is not a substance that has a profound effect on behavior and it can in fact make some people more productive members of society. I know several people who are functioning members of society that may be in that position only because of their kratom use.

After suffering from my first migraine headache at the young age of 8 years old, I was prescribed opiates over the years. I truly hated them and how they made me feel. I was very fortunate to discover natural kratom and have now been free from all opiates for 15 years.

I have safely used kratom, much in the same way as coffee or caffeine for years. I am a mother, wife, educator, and active community member. Banning kratom would be ridiculous and would open the floodgates to banning coffee beans and other natural plant-based substances.

I feel very fortunate that I have not taken opiates for many years now, all thanks to natural kratom

I am a 49-year-old, Iowan mother of 2 teenage boys, who has been using Kratom, since 2013. It helps my ability to function and improves my overall quality of life. I discovered the supplemental benefits in research of safer alternatives for chronic pain relief. I needed something post recovery, after a death-defying trauma, from 2 holes in my bowel. This was caused by long term use of over-the-counter ibuprofen. I fully understand the danger of opiate use. In my case, the complete irony of my avoidance of opiates is what narrowly cost my life.

I was held an entire day in the ER, while my family advocated for them not to send me home. After several tests, they couldn't find the source of my sudden onset, intense abdominal pain. Since my records showed past history of opioid use for chronic pain, I fully believe they thought I was "drug seeking". By the next morning, I was sent on a $37,000 helicopter flight, to Mayo Clinic. The surgeon told my husband that if I'd been sent via highway, rather than skyway, it may have been too late. They assured him that I "should have a good outcome," meaning, I should live. I had 2 boys under age 3 at home, who saw me leave in an ambulance and didn't see me again for 17 days. It took 3 months to recover, then ALL of my hair fell out.

Today, people commonly turn to natural supplements like turmeric, that has become an accepted, well-known anti-inflammatory. Kratom has only recently become more known for health benefits. We are talking about a product akin to coffee, that works similarly in certain strains and doses and amazingly effects brain receptors similarly for pain control.

The alternative use of natural supplements native to all regions of our world are just not understood or studied in American modern medicine. What is not fully studied and "approved," does not equate to danger, any more than what is approved equates to "safe." We also need to consider the motives behind what is sought for ban by the higher powers that be, in our capitalist society. A leaf from a tree, cannot be patented, but the desired chemical compounds in pill form can.

As with anything novel, young people interested in a legal high will experiment with it. With most good things in life and addictions, it's like the song lyrics, "I use to do a little, but a little wasn't doin, so a little got more and more" as tolerance builds. Kratom offers no higher reward to the senses by taking higher amounts, as there is a ceiling to the positive effects. With opiates, it's ultimately respiratory depression that steals life, not to mention horrific withdrawals and desperate behavior that transpires, as addiction takes hold. The absolute beauty of the kratom tree leaf is that it offers the pain control, but nothing close to that sought after high, that leads to addiction and destruction of lives. There are only unpleasant, but far from deadly effects, after taking more than needed. Generally, it amounts to light headedness, headache and stomach upset that subsides within an hour of use. There is nothing to fear or desperately protect our loved ones from.

After hearing about Kratom use causing death, if you look further, it's simply the unfamiliar factor and deductive assumption, not fact. Families understandably, would not choose to disclose if additional substances were involved. I currently only know of 2 medications with researched evidence of harm; therefore, counter indicated with Kratom. The synergistic, compound effects of anything, plus Kratom, is mostly unknown. For this reason, I won't argue against regulation for age restriction, dosages and maintaining the natural integrity of the leaf as a product. Legislation is only appropriate to protect against the risks of adulteration and unsafe vendor handling.

Thank you so much for taking your time to read my experience and knowledge relating to Kratom. I hope you will take this into consideration and accept the invitation to look further into the data before making your decision. I know I do not stand alone in my concern about the detriment a ban would bring to the quality of so many lives. The reason a national ban failed many years ago, is because of advocates like me, who pleaded from all over the country and marched at our nation's capital, with this same request. It has since not come to pass, because there is no justification. Kratom does not pose a public health risk.

I am pleading with those of you who have been chosen to make objective, rational, and reasonable decisions in the best interest of the people. Please, vote against or remove any language describing Kratom products (mitragynine) from any proposed ban in your power.

I’ve been using Kratom since 2015. When doctors quit writing pain scrips I turn to Kratom for my chronic pain relief. I find it a more natural and effective way to manage my chronic pain.

I can see why big pharma wants to ban this supplement. Please keep it legal and adopt the Kratom association act.

This plant is my literal life saver. Living with crohns disease can be very painful at times, limiting me to bed rest for several days.

With Kratom, I am able to manage my pain on a daily basis, & continue employment as a productive part of society

"I'm writing this as a 48-year-old, Iowan mother of 2 teenage boys, who has been using Kratom as a supplement since 2013. It is a product that I discovered while researching safer alternatives for chronic pain relief, after recovering from a death-defying trauma from 2 holes in my bowel. This was caused by long term use of over-the-counter ibuprofens. I fully understand the danger of opiate use. In my case, the complete irony of my avoidance of opiates is what narrowly cost my life. I was held an entire day in the ER, while my family advocated for them not to send me home. Since the source of my sudden onset intensely acute pain wasn't found, and my records showed pain prescription use in the past, I fully believe I was dismissed as being a "drug seeker". By the next morning, I was sent by helicopter to Rochester. The surgeons told my husband, "If I'd come via highway, rather than skyway, it may have been too late.", but I "should have a good outcome", meaning, I should live. I had 2 boys under 3 years old at home that saw me leave in an ambulance and they didn't see me again for 17 days. It took 3 months to recover and then ALL of my hair fell out. The alternative use of herbal supplements native to all regions of our world are just not studied and understood in American modern medicine. What is not fully studied and proven, does not equate to danger. We also need to consider the motives behind what is sought for ban by the higher powers that be in our capitalist society. A leaf from a tree cannot be patented, but the desired chemical compounds in pill form can. I am pleading with those of you who have been chosen to make objective, rational, and reasonable decisions in the best interest of the people. Please, vote against or remove any language describing Kratom products (mitragynine) from any proposed ban in your power... I know I do not stand alone in my concern about the detriment a ban would bring to the quality of so many lives.”

"I have been taking kratom for 9 years now. My wife has also. It has improved our life. We were addicted to painkillers that were dangerous and costly to obtain until kratom came along and with it we lost all desire to jump through the hoops and deal with shady people and put ourselves in bad situations to obtain. Kratom is very mild at most compared to the opiates we were chasing. I would take 10 to 14 pills at one time and still had no effect. Then I knew I had a serious problem when nodding out, burning myself and furniture with cigarettes. Felt like I couldn't wake up when I went to sleep. Letting the addiction control when and how long I would go and stay at work.. now life is better. I do not think this should be banned or you will see people getting sick and falling out of the work force or off the map.”

"Many years ago I developed a condition called trigeminal neuralgia. It is an extreme pain condition which many call a suicide disease. I searched for many ways to get it under control and failed until I was put on fentanyl and hydrocodone. Of course I could not be sustained due to abuse possibilities and it was not really an overall answer. I was tested for a neural stimulator and that helped quite a bit with that condition. I also have a condition called hemicrania continua which causes migraines in many other different types of pain in my head. The only thing that could control it was a medication called indomethacin, however that created an issue where my bladder walls were thickening and I could not get rid of all urine and eventually had to get a catheter put through my abdomen to get to the bladder. I also have what's called diabetic neuropathy which causes pain all over my body from head to toe. The only thing that helped with each of these pains has been kratom. Kratom comes from an evergreen like tree that is in the coffee family. It comes from Southeast Asia where people for thousands of years have used the leaves to relieve pain and to live their spirits. They have used it without issues as far as addiction goes. Kratom is extremely safe no matter what others have said to the contrary. There is not been any deaths related directly to kratom and any deaths that related as kratom related we're due to other compounds that the person might have taken like cocaine, fentanyl, heroin, etc. Kratom has been a godsend for me and others like me. The pharmaceutical companies don't like that, because it takes away from their profits. They will do anything to stop the sales of this supplement. They have lied, made fun of, sent trolls into kratom support groups to make it look dangerous, etc, etc. If you look at the facts you will find out that kratom is not dangerous. Please do not ban it. If you do, this will send many people elsewhere to find pain relief like illicit drugs, alcohol, suicide, etc. Please do not be blindsided by kratoms detractors. Thank you."

"My husband actually started taking Kratom to help with an addiction problem. It also helped him with his anxiety and depression. When I noticed it helping him, I started taking it. I was working a lot of hours and was constantly tired, stressed out, bad mood, and foggy brained. Literally 30 min after drinking the tea - I felt amazing! I was able to focus, completely turned my mood away and it gave me energy! There are different strains, there is yellow that would help calm you down if you have anxiety or just wanted to relax but couldn’t. There’s another strain that helps with sleeping. I used to toss and turn and this strain would help put me at ease but I was still able to jump up in the middle of the night if I heard something. I don’t like the chemicals that are in all these prescription pills that I would need to take in order to help me through my life and the fact that there’s a natural way to take something that literally really helps is amazingand affordable! I’ve been taking it now for about ten years and go have my yearly physical and never have any issues. This is a dried up elephant leaf that holds healing properties, do not withhold this to the public. If you’re allowed to sell alcohol and cigarettes that are awful for you - no reason to ban kratom!"

“I am an advocate activist and consumer of Kratom. I have been sober from alcohol and painkillers. 8 years ago I became tired of the same cycle with pain meds and alcohol. Liters and hand fulls a day. I found Kratom in 2016 when my cousin had brought it back from a girlfriend who he had been dating at the time. Said it was gross try it with chocolate milk to mask the taste. I tried it that way and I didn’t like it at first. Then the relief came. And the mood and energy boost. Just like a cup of coffee. It’s time to regulate it and keep the raw leaf powder safe. It helps keep people like me healthy and productive while minimizing pain. It saved my life and so many others. Don’t ban this miracle leaf.”