I am writing to you in regards to my experience and perspective regarding Kratom. I have been taking Kratom for somewhere around 10 years.

I am an older man, and my energy levels are not what they used to be. I work 64+ hours per week at my job, as well as maintain an online business that I am building, and I always have multiple projects that keep me busy at home with what little spare time I can find. All I do is work, and my life requires me to be very active in order to maintain my responsibilities.

Kratom helps me tremendously to stay focused and have an extra boost of energy, similar to caffeine, except it does not cause the irritability that comes with caffeine. There are no intoxicating effects whatsoever to this plant, and I experience no “side effects” from it.

Since 2016 I have witnessed the attempts by the FDA and multiple states to ban Kratom. Their attempts have been based on lies and manipulations. Dr. Jack Henningfield has completed studies which prove, scientifically, that Kratom is safe. If you have not read these studies thoroughly, then you have an obligation and a responsibility to do so before you go violating the rights of every citizen of Virginia by banning this plant based on lies.

If anyone reading this has not spoken to or heard Mac Haddow with the American Kratom Association speak on this subject, then I implore you to please listen to him. His knowledge on this subject is tremendous, and he can verbalize the facts about this plant better than perhaps anyone out there. I also implore you to review the scientific studies conducted by Dr. Jack Henningfield, and speak to him if you have the opportunity. He is an expert in his field and his studies prove this plant to be safe.

I am beyond tired of seeing the rights of citizens in this country being taken away or restricted based on lies. Those who have been seeking to have Kratom banned have an agenda. Who would benefit if Kratom were to ever be banned? Or should I say, which pharmaceutical company would benefit if Kratom were to ever be banned?

The bill that you are considering for Virginia residents is nothing short of tyrannical. 

I'll close with this. I just checked openvaers.com. I see that the total US reported deaths in the VAERS database from the Covid-19 vaccine is 37,544, and the reported Adverse Reactions from the Covid-19 vaccine is 1,637,441. These numbers are estimated to be less than 1% of what is actually happening. Less…than…one…percent. Where is the outrage from the FDA and legislators to ban these injections? Yet Kratom is being targeted.

Do you all have a bill that you are reviewing in order to ban the experimental Covid injections which have been PROVEN to kill countless people and cause permanent disability to countless people? When are you going to ban those experimental injections? Oh that's right, there's nothing to see there. That's probably not on your sites, because you've got something important to focus on, which is Kratom, because some guy died back in 2014 and had Kratom in his system. Nevermind that he had been shot and died from gunshot wounds. Let's ban Kratom because he had it in his system.

If I sound angry about this, it is because I am. I am praying that each of you who may see this will conduct yourselves with honor and dignity, and do the right thing to protect access to this plant for the citizens of Virginia.