The safety profile of kratom is unlike many other pain relief alternatives out there today. Many have successfully gotten off hard drugs after trying and failing rehab over and over.  There are many chronic pain patients who manage their pain with kratom who would otherwise no longer be with us because they committed suicide since physicians failed to provide adequate opioid pain relievers for fear that they would become addicted or divert their prescription.  

In pretty much all of the deaths that have been associated with kratom, other substances have been found as well or there were pre-existing conditions, or the dose was extremely large.  Let's educate consumers instead so they know they can make informed decisions and avoid these tragedies that will continue to happen even if it becomes illegal. 

It would be a dire mistake to ban kratom.  Thailand made the same mistake in '43.  Let's not repeat it.