Kratom has proven itself to be helpful in my life. I have found it beneficial for pain or mood problems that other medications or supplements either did not adequately address for me, or produced intolerable side effects. Kratom is not without side effects, however for me they were manageable by taking brief breaks from using it, which was easy to do. I do not notice any addictive effect with kratom. I can pause at any time, sometimes for weeks or months at a time, without symptoms of withdrawal.

Just as with any unregulated supplement or vitamin, and as with medications, one must treat kratom consumption responsibly. It is the same with the advice for prescription medications, OTC medicines, and vitamins or supplements, which can also be toxic or addictive when used at the wrong dosage or frequency. I do not see the reason to classify kratom as Schedule 1. If a formal study were done of the benefits of it vs harm, I expect that the beneficial effects would outweigh other considerations.