John Boyd

I oppose the bill to create kratom and the alkaloids from it as a scheduled drug. I have suffered severe back problems that create both dulling pain and certain sharp/direct pain from severe nerve damage for 20 years. Still, after 3 surgeries, medically being told no more surgery attempts, the pain remained, and pain management is/would be the permanent route moving forward. Unfortunately, that route lead down many powerful prescribed addictive opiates, leading to doctors not communicating with each other correctly, being removed from programs, leading myself to seek relief from illegal sources on the streets. It has been a vicious cycle I have dealt with for over 19 years. Kratom and its Alkaloids have been an astounding re-introduction into society to allow me to be a successful, functioning citizen without a horrible addiction to the powerful and seemingly dangerous world (even under the care of medical professionals) of the legally prescibed medications available. Please allow more time and studies to be performed before taking away the benefits of these substances to several others in similar situations. That have helped countless people to regain control of their lives with kratom and its alkaloids within. I believe it will do more harm than good, turning people to seek alternatives that could potentially be much more dangerous, risky, and potentially deadly! Please, oppose SB 557