"After my first csection at the age of 28, I began having debilitating pain in the middle of my spine. I couldn’t lay down, sit down or stand comfortably. I spent 6yrs miserable, going from one doctor to another with no answers and no help. I was desperate for relief, even just a little. I found out about kratom and figured it was worth a shot (I had already tried diet, exercise, wt loss, yoga, PT, supplements, pain management, literally everything). Kratom saved me. It allowed me to return to daily activities (showering, cooking, caring for my children). Kratom helps me to live. It hasn’t harmed me or relationships, I’m not addicted or high, I haven’t had any side effects. It is safe and effective and I am DISGUSTED that attempts are being made to ban it. After years of asking for help from doctors (and being told it was all in my head, “you’re too young to have anything wrong with you”) I was finally diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis and degenerate disc disease. These conditions will only get worse with time. If kratom is banned I will not be able to continue living a life that isn’t composed solely of chronic pain and misery."

"I currently consume kratom for pain relief. I am 43 years old and suffer from chronic pain. I’ve taken opioids, have had injections among other things. I can honestly say that I don't know where I'd be without kratom. It’s impossible to live with chronic pain."

"Kratom has helped me tremendously. Not so long ago I was taking pain meds for my shoulder. My joints still hurt a lot of days and on days they are hurting bad I take kratom. Since I have started taking it I no longer take any meds and that’s been several years now."

"I rely on kratom to ease severe pain and ease anxiety. I don't get near enough pain meds or any anxiety meds, so I rely on kratom to survive the day. I live on the Mississippi Coast and if Rhode Island can do it, I am hopeful for the rest of us."

"When I left the military, I did so at the request of my wife for the sake of our new family. I was not ready and I watched as everything fell apart. My marriage was failing, my education was failing, and my career was failing. This culminated about a year later with me suicidal, sitting by myself on a bench in a park and deciding that I was going to take my life that day. The reason that I didn't was because kratom was available to me, which helped me clear my mind and realize that my son would be without a father. If it were not for Kratom I would not be here today."