From some of the comments read, it is apparent there are a lot of misconceptions about Kratom: which is sad.

There is a wealth of legitimate knowledge on "Kratom" that has not been sensationalized to the point of being propaganda. Here is just one example:

https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.801855

The most salient point in the article being that "there are NO reports of deaths due to kratom use in SE Asia for over a century," (i.e., where the use of kratom is more common and more widely-available).

The article also discusses the misconceptions around kratom "causing deaths" in the United States (which there is zero evidence for).

Claiming that kratom "caused" a death (any death claims) is tantamount to claiming that coffee could cause death. Someone more sensitive to caffeine consumes a large cold brew (drink with the highest caffeine content) from Dunkin Donuts. On their drive to work, they begin to experience caffeine-induced anxiety, get shaky, and misinterpret a red light, getting T-boned in the process. They die. Would the cause of death be Dunkin Donuts? Coffee? In every claim of death related to kratom, there is a cocktail of other substances detected in the autopsy reports.

To those that truly believe kratom "caused" the death of a loved-one, I understand why they rationalize it. They feel as if they can do something about kratom. The other substances (that actually contributed to a loved-one's death) are either already illegal, or are prescribed pharmaceuticals. 

However, capitulating to such flawed rationalizations would do substantial harm.

As cited in the article, people that already use kratom in a healthy manner/in moderation will be unnecessarily penalized. The negative stigma that would be created with a ban on kratom would hinder opportunities to gather more data and evidence (i.e., no one is going to honestly report to their doctors they consume kratom if it is banned, creating more danger for drug interactions).

It is a terrible idea to ban kratom and should be shot down immediately and decisively by every single lawmaker in the state of Virginia (nationally as well).