Subject

Dear Member of Congress,

Message Body I am writing to urge you to stop any attempts to criminalize or ban kratom, a tropical plant in the coffee family from Southeast Asia that has been used to help those suffering from opioid withdrawal and other health conditions for centuries. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb has issued ominous statements on kratom which is currently used as an herbal supplement by many in the U.S. to help reduce debilitating health conditions associated with addiction, chronic pain and other difficult-to-treat conditions. The FDA has recommended that the Drug Enforcement Administration ban kratom. In 2016, the DEA announced it was going to irresponsibly place the active compounds in kratom, Mitragynine and 7-Hydroxymitragynine, into Schedule I. But after enormous public outcry from advocates and a bipartisan coalition of Members of Congress, the DEA solicited public comments and delayed the ban. Many people use kratom for health reasons ranging from managing opioid withdrawal symptoms to depression. Evidence suggests that kratom is less harmful to use than conventional medications. It would be absurd to prohibit a medicinal plant that many people use to help manage debilitating health conditions. Commissioner Gottlieb said the FDA remains open to the potential medicinal uses of kratom and is encouraging scientific research. But it seems like the FDA is following in the footsteps of the DEA – using inaccurate information to justify prohibition and punishment instead of prioritizing serious scientific investigation and safe, well-regulated access. As someone who cares about this issue, I urge you to resist any attempts to criminalize or ban kratom. Thank you.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]

[Your Address]