James Scagliano

As someone who struggled with a nine year addiction to prescription opioids prescribed by my doctor for chronic arthritis and a back injury, I can attest to the life-changing benefits of natural kratom. I now rely on plain leaf kratom to manage chronic pain from sciatica and severe arthritis. This allows me to remain present and capable to hold down a job as a vendor for a bread company. A total ban would force constituents like me into an impossible position: returning to highly addictive prescription medication that made me so tired that I couldn't hold down a job and support my family, or facing criminalization for seeking a natural alternative that has allowed me to reclaim my life. I am certainly not opposed to reasonable consumer safety regulations. I urge the legislature to distinguish between natural kratom leaf and synthetic derivatives like 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) extracts. While I support banning chemically modified synthetic versions produced in shady labs to make a quick buck, it is vital to keep natural kratom legal and accessible. I also must stress the fact of how important it is to buy from vendors who operate in good faith and full transparency by posting their lab results. It is imperative that the kratom that I take is safe with no high levels of heavy metals. Based on what I know from research and through a friend of mine who is a kratom vendor, it is nearly impossible to get product that has been tainted with heavy metals out of Indonesia or Thailand. The officials there do the first round of testing, deeming the product safe to export. They do this out of responsibility, but also out of the fear of lawsuits from foreign nations. Then the product is tested again in American labs to make sure that the product is indeed safe for Americans to consume. A total ban would devastate a community of law-abiding citizens who have found a path to recovery and wellness. What this ban will ultimately do, is ensure that kratom users will turn to lethal street drugs, instead of having a healthier option. I urge you to instead consider regulations that ensure product safety without removing this essential resource. Do not believe the false reports of people dying from natural kratom. The people who have "died" from kratom were either on synthetic derivatives or combined it with other substances. The hypocrisy of banning natural plants while also keeping alcohol, pills, and tobacco legal is also aggravating, given that more people die from those vices times a thousand than they do from natural kratom, yet those remain readily available. Please do not take away the liberty to do with my body as I see fit. Thank you for your time and considering my perspective. God bless, James Scagliano