Being in the criminal justice field I've seen the toll that addiction takes on people. Kratom offers people a life raft that is safe and affordable. It gives people, who are legally prescribed opiates for pain management, something they can rely on while waiting for their prescriptions to fill. As well, it's not just for people in recovery but a great alternative medicine that should be kept safe. The pros of using it outweighs the cons of possible habit formation. I've been using it for 10+ years with no issues and it has greatly improved my life. There are many habit forming substances and practices that are legally on the market (gambling, alcohol, sugar, cigarettes, etc.) and only a few I can think of that don't destroy peoples' lives to the point where people regret having had started and where it's possible to stop just by willing it so: Marijuana, Kratom and caffeine. There is no logical reason for kratom to be the red-headed step child when alcohol is openly sold here. Alcohol causes health issues, birth defects, addiction, deadly withdrawal, hospitalizations....and yet most people are able to use it responsibly. Kratom is the same but has no connection to birth defects, no deadly withdrawals and no potential for overdose when consumed as plain leaf. I hope that this will be another successful outcome."

"Kratom has helped me with my severe pain from arthritis and endometriosis for seven years with no issues with my health or addiction. I please ask kindly that this miracle plant not be banned, so that I and other people can live our lives pain free here in Montana. I support passing the Kratom protection act however and I believe that that type of bill would be beneficial instead of banning Kratom. Thank you"

"As a blue collar man who has been working one construction trade or another for over 20 years I have put my body through its paces. As a result I suffer from daily, chronic pain in my shoulders, right elbow and wrist, lower back, right hip, both knees, and my right ankle. There are some mornings where the pain is downright excruciating. I personally do not want to be dependent on pharmaceuticals just to get through my days so, discovering Kratom was a godsend. For me Kratom is a safe, non-addictive alternative to modern painkillers that helps me continue to pay my bills, support my family and not go on some kind of assistance that makes me just one more drain on our beautiful country's ever stressed resources. Please, do your own research and let the facts, not big pharma and the FDA, speak for themselves."