I oppose this bill as an adult consumer of kratom for chronic pain. I was in a car accident in 2009 and have had multiple neck surgeries and as a result, have nerve damage and arthritis (among other issues) that cause severe pain daily. No pain management clinic is willing to start a prescription, other than being told to get more injections and take ibuprofen and tylenol. I'm a mother of two boys, both of which have autism and other developmental delays. My husband is also disabled due to a work accident. Without kratom, I would once again be unable to function and wouldn't be the mom and wife I'm finally able to be again. PLEASE consider regulations on kratom, not an all out ban.

I urge lawmakers and the public to do their own research on Kratom before supporting Bill S7379. The recent tragic local event has generated a lot of misinformation about this natural plant, and it's critical we respond with facts, not fear. Kratom is a plant supplement, not an opiate. The FDA attempted to schedule Kratom as a controlled substance, but failed because scientific research did not support it. In fact, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued an opinion stating that banning Kratom would pose a significant risk to public health. A 2024 FDA-commissioned dose-finding study found Kratom to be well tolerated even at high doses, with generally mild side effects. Like many substances, it carries some risk — the addiction profile is low, on par with coffee, chocolate, and nutmeg. Kratom is not a fringe substance. It's estimated that 13–15 million Americans use Kratom, many of them for chronic pain, anxiety, PTSD (especially veterans), and to ease opioid withdrawal. I’ve personally been using Kratom for nearly 8 years. After battling debilitating anxiety and being prescribed several medications — including Xanax, a highly addictive controlled substance — I found that Kratom worked better. It gave me my life back and made me feel like me again. The Kratom community has actively asked for sensible regulation, including age restrictions and proper labeling requirements to ensure consumer safety. Bills like A5852 and A2340 already address these concerns. Please pass those bills, not prohibition. As with anything — even substances we consume daily like water — excess can be dangerous. That’s why responsible use is critical, and proper education, not fear, should guide our approach. Do not base policy on misinformation. Let’s focus on science, facts, and public health — not stigma.

I do not support this bill and I urge lawmakers to reconsider. Hasn't history already proven that prohibition causes more problems than it ever solves? Please look at the science on kratom and listen to the people that it has helped.

kratom has saved my life. majority are responsible adults that use it for pain and anxiety. safe alternative. please do your research your taking our freedoms away

This bill is going to get a lot of people killed.

The absolute last thing we need during a fentanyl epidemic is to ban the only way to get off the stuff without depending on a doctor. If you want to ban sales of pure 7-OH-mitragynine, extracts, or other more potent forms derived from the plant, that's fine with me. They're giving the leaf a bad name, and they do indeed cause addiction issues and have been linked to some deaths.

If you want to age restrict it, that's already being done HERE:

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S4552

If you want to protect consumers from adulterants, get truth in labeling, and lab data- that too is already being done HERE:

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2023/S488

But, to throw anyone caught with a freaking leaf in a cage reminds me of marijuana prohibition, only significantly dumber. Do your own research about the individuals in recovery who depend on this plant. It has helped millions come off hard opiates/opioids.

It's also extraordinarily non-toxic - the amount of leaf it would take to kill a person is astronomical. As tragic as it is when any person dies, there are few things on this Earth which a human death cannot be attributed to.

I am so sick of politicians grandstanding every time a kid gets hurt. Look at the usage stats vs deaths attributed. Look at the drugs combined within those stats. Look at the dosages being taken that led to those deaths.

Then, look at the damage that clandestinely produced fentanyl has done. Recognize that it isn't going anywhere, and recognize how much fuel this policy would be adding to the proverbial fire.

One more thing - you'll also be losing quite a few reliable taxpayers.

Kratom has saved the lives of so many people and that is the reason more people are turning to it! Kratom is a very safe herb and has helped thousands of people get off hard dangerous drugs and give them their lives back. It is also very good for helping people with depression! Please do not ban this plant that helps so many.

7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) is a natural plant alkaloid that provides a safe and effective alternative for treating pain and various psychiatric conditions. It does not incite violence or idiotic behavior, it is much less addictive than traditional opioids, and an overdose cannot cause death, at least for the vast majority of consumers. I believe that keeping 7-OH legal will help reduce opioid-related deaths, as people will have a safe, legal alternative to "hard" drugs like fentanyl, heroin, and prescription painkillers.

Thank you for reading.

I take kratom for restless leg syndrome. It is absolutely ridiculous to make it a schedule 1 drug. It is much safer than marijuana and alchohol and I am absolutely flabergasted that this bill is even being considered. We must keep it legal.

Kratom should remain legal because it offers a natural alternative for individuals managing chronic pain, anxiety, and opioid withdrawal without the harsh side effects or high addiction potential of many prescription medications. Used responsibly, kratom can serve as a harm-reduction tool, helping people transition away from more dangerous substances. Criminalizing it would not only limit access for those who genuinely benefit from its therapeutic properties, but also push its use into unregulated markets, increasing the risks associated with contamination and misuse. Rather than banning kratom, a balanced regulatory framework that ensures product safety and consumer education would better serve public health interests.

Please don't make the good men and women in your state criminals. Research this life saving plant. It is related to the coffee plant and acts as such. You will be banning a life saving resource that will worsen the opioid crisis and force people to go back to big pharmaceuticals.

To Members of the NYS Senate Health Committee:

I respectfully urge you to oppose S7379, which would schedule kratom as a controlled substance. For thousands of New Yorkers, kratom is a vital, plant-based tool for managing chronic pain, mental health conditions, and opioid recovery. As someone living with a debilitating illness, kratom has enabled me to work, remain housed, and live with dignity, after decades of failed conventional treatments.

Leading research institutions, including Johns Hopkins and the FDA, have acknowledged kratom’s therapeutic potential and low abuse profile. Additionally, the World Health Organization has found no basis for international scheduling. Criminalizing kratom would not only remove a lifeline for vulnerable populations but also stifle critical research.

Instead of prohibition, I urge the committee to consider regulated consumer safety frameworks such as the Kratom Consumer Protection Act, already enacted in 15 states. Thoughtful regulation ensures product safety while preserving access for responsible adults.

Thank you for your attention and consideration.

— Joseph A. Harrington

Please vote no on this bill. Scheduling kratom like this will directly harm addicts who use this miracle plant to stay off of opiates. Kratom and its alkaloids have quite literally saved my life. I was very addicted to oxycodone before i found kratom. I have been clean ever since and it’s all because of kratom. I overdosed several times when i was addicted to oxy. With kratom, i am able to live a normal life without the fear of relapsing on painkillers. If this bill passes, addicts will go back to street drugs and opiates and they will die. Kratom and its alkaloids are life saving. I STRONGLY OPPOSE THIS BILL AND URGE ALL REPRESENTATIVES TO VOTE NO!

Another bill to place a safe plant with minimal side effects on Schedule 1 by misinformed wealthy politicians who are out of touch with what they’re even doing. Why would a plant that has never directly caused a death be put on Schedule 1? Isn’t that reserved for dangerous substances? Talk to users of Kratom and do a little research into its safety profile. Remain mindful that the very few people who died with Kratom in their system were poly drug users who were abusing other substances that are actually dangerous. Will coffee and caffeine be banned next because several irresponsible users have died or a few accidental overdoses have caused cardiac arrest? As an occasional and responsible user of Kratom, I’ve had way worse side effects from alcohol and never had any negative side effects from Kratom. I know people personally who have stopped abusing other substances (including alcohol) and live a healthier life due to Kratom use. Their bloodwork doesn’t show any abnormalities and they eat well, go to the gym, socialize, maintain healthy relationships, and deal with chronic pain due to responsible Kratom use. Some are people trying to avoid taking dangerous pharmaceuticals including opiates. Look into the science of the plant and its use to discover that you’re attempting to ban a plant that’s less dangerous than alcohol and tobacco. A plant that doesn’t pose any lethal risk. A plant that millions of people use responsibly and mindfully to live a normal life.

i oppose this bill. kratom really helps many people in different ways. i take it for restless leg syndrome.

I absolutely DO NOT support this bill in any way, shape, or form. Kratom has not met the 8 factors it must to even consider a scheduling, not even on the federal level. This supplement has saved my life in so many ways. To schedule it would be a disaster for the hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers that utilize it for a plethora of ailments, SAFELY. The KCPA is the way to go. Sensible safety regulations and age restrictions are all that are necessary. I am a 14 year Kratom tea consumer and staunch advocate. Please do not turn me into a criminal. Thank you.

I oppose this bill and anyone with half a brain should too. This is a disgrace to the American people.