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.

I do not support this bill. I urge lawmakers to research further into Kratom. I have dealt with chronic pain for years and kratom has truly changed & improved my quality of life. I used to struggle functioning normally on a day-to-day basis. But Kratom has made it so that my chronic pain is manageable, I can finally work and support my family. Kratom has not only saved my life, but thousands of other's lives as well. Banning Kratom with be detrimental to thousands of individuals wellbeing.

I fully oppose this bill—this will get people killed. Kratom is a safe alternative that has helped many people escape dependence on dangerous street drugs. Let people decide whether or not to put what has been proven time and again to be a safe substance into their bodies. Aren't Republicans the party against onerous regulation and pro-individual freedom? What happened to that?

Kratom is a vital tool for the health and wellbeing of the citizens of New York: 7-ho has forever been one of the ingredients main components of Kratom.

The change in tone of these new reports is not evidence of harm to our society.

in an era of such profound unhappiness why is such an overly cautious line being tread. One of the most effective ways to prevent the worst harms and outcome in drug abuse is to provide a mild and effective alternative.

is a mild balm on the core issue we face on a daily basis. Large numbers are very depressed Individuals are dangerous. They emotionally hurt others. They’re bad employees. They’re political extremists. They’re addicts:
Yea the problem is that drs have very limited options other than serotoninergic meds please allow this novel therapy to be studied and given get a chance to integrate in a healthy way.

Hello,

I oppose this bill for a variety of reasons.

Kratom can be used for harm reduction (the majority of Kratom users are people who luckily survived the fentanyl epidemic, chronic pain patients, people with depression/anxiety, self medicating for a variety of legitimate reasons that are inaccessible through the existing healthcare complex, etc.
Of course there is a risk of dependence with this plant, but the same can be said about every single "standard" drug which is legally accessible and used for medication assisted treatment (MAT); things like Methadone or Suboxone also carry a serious risk of addiction and death - yet they are regulated and held to a standard that is acceptable to the medical authorities.
Why not regulate Kratom and have the FDA ensure the plant matter isn’t containing heavy metals, pesticides, etc.? Can’t we continue to provide access to a plant that is much safer than legal opioids? Who actually benefits from banning this plant?
– Consider exploring who really benefits from prohibition, and what they stand to gain.
Also consider why legal alternatives are too expensive, dangerous, inaccessible, and just as difficult to stop using to

Time and time again, substances are prohibited and the result is a society that is EVEN LESS SAFE than it was before. Instead of accessing relatively benign plant matter, people will turn to illicit opioids - there is an endless variety of research chemicals with names that are alphabet soup - and if Kratom is banned, more harmful substances will quickly fill the void. Many people won’t make it through another wave of fentanyl crises, and they will indeed die.
Prohibition never works - the best option we have is to regulate Kratom and have it held to the same standards of any other regulated drug.
Alcohol is legal, even though it kills 178,000 people per year and causes a great amount of social harm – why haven’t you banned that substance yet instead? It’s proven to be more harmful that the majority of banned substances COMBINED!
Sometimes the people who criticize illicit substances for being "dangerous" are the same ones who abuse alcohol, cigarettes, prescription benzos/opioids etc. – all of them are legal yet proven to be extremely dangerous. There is an unfair standard that comes with banning any drug, especially when you compare the damage that these legal substances like alcohol incur. Many of our prohibitive drugs laws are rooted in racist institutions, stereotypes, and misinformation – sometimes prohibition is done intentionally to cause harm and feed the privatized prison industrial complex. Who is actually safer when many of our citizens are criminalized and unable to participate in our society?

With Kratom, the ground plant matter itself is safe when used in its natural form, with no extracts or synthesized compounds (i.e. 7-OH or any number of the dozens of isolated drugs contained in Kratom).
Any cases of death historically on the record for Kratom are complicated by factors such as poly drug use, dosage, sourcing, etc. There is little evidence that the plant itself, when consumed in average and reasonable doses, is lethal or dangerous. Kratom extracts are a different beast – if anything, those need to be regulated even more so than Kratom power itself.
We've continued to have an epidemic with much more dangerous opioids, all of which became used even though it was regulated and LEGAL pain medication; overprescribed and endorsed by federal agencies and companies – many of whom had money to gain by pushing drugs like Vicodin, Oxycodone, etc.

Banning Kratom will directly lead to a public health crisis. When thousands of people no longer have access to a substance they are physically and emotionally dependent upon, they will flood emergency rooms, detox centers, rehabs, and mental health services.
This will put a large amount of strain on the healthcare industry. Unfortunately, this seems to be what lawmakers and supporters might actually want – to some degree, they know that banning kratom will put extra money in the pockets of various institutions, including state run clinics, rehabs, and various shareholders of the privatized healthcare industry - including jails and manufacturers of Suboxone and Naltrexone, Vivitrol etc.

If placed as a schedule one substance, large amounts of people will return to illicit opioids, and given the lack of regulation on those drugs too, many more people will die as a result of this.
It is not far-fetched to imagine hundreds (if not thousands) of people dying in our country because they relapsed on fentanyl or synthetic opioids once kratom is no longer accessible.
Think of the situation in 2020/2021, when everyone debated closing liquor stores during the height of COVID 19. Ultimately, the government acted in the interest of public safety, and kept liquor stores open because they understand the undue strain that would be placed on the healthcare industry if alcohol became inaccessible. Shouldn’t the same be done for Kratom?

What sort of safety net would New York or the federal government provide to those who are dependent on this drug, and use it for legitimate reasons as an alternate to legal painkillers?
If Kratom was banned, and thousands of people who were physically dependent on the substance needed an alternative or rehabilitation, we would be in serious trouble. We already have a public health crisis as is! Who will help these people, and how will they survive?
I ask you to please read more about the effects and nature of Kratom itself, why people choose to use it, and ask yourself “how much safer is this drug compared to existing synthetic opioids that flood the black market at large? What will users decide to do when they can no longer get Kratom?”
What will they turn to on the black market, and why will it be magnitudes of WORSE substances that actually have very serious risks compare to kratom?
I ask that you reconsider this bill, and focus on what the people actually want for themselves in our country.

Thank you for reading,

-L.H.