On January 18th 2023 bill number SCHB3742 was introduced to the South Carolina House of Representatives to make Kratom a schedule IV controlled substance. Kratom is a plant native to south east Asia that has been used for thousands of years to help with pain relief. Many South Carolinians use Kratom on a regular basis to help treat a variety of issues. It has gained much attention since the march on washington in 2016 to fight the attempted federal ban on Kratom. This natural plant has many uses, including helping with moderate to sever pain issues, Crohn's disease, and Lupus to name a few. It has also been tremendous in helping to curb the opioid epidemic. Currently in South Carolina the overdose rate is 34.19 per every 100,00 people. South Carolina currently ranks 17th in the nation for overdose rates. Kratom has helped so many people find a better way of life without the use of narcotics. It gives people a more natural alternative to the use of man made narcotics. While Kratom has been vilified in the media the truth is this plant is saving people's lives. People from all walks of life use Kratom, from the elderly to the young. Kratom is mostly consumed by adults between the ages of 40-75 to help alleviate their pain. Kratom has also been detrimental in helping with harm reduction involving the opioid epidemic. Retirees, Doctors, Nurses, police officers, active duty and veterans of the armed forces are some examples. Currently there are 5 states that have passed the Kratom protection act which helps to make sure Kratom stays legal in their state and also insures quality and purity standards for all Kratom sold in that state. There are 3 more states voting to be added to the list of protected states. If anything, South Carolina should sign the Kratom protection act insuring safety and quality of Kratom coming into the state. Please help us by signing our petition and showing the South Carolina House of Representatives that outlawing Kratom would only hurt the people of their state. Please contact your representative for the house in South Carolina and let your voice be heard on why we should keep Kratom legal. Share your story with the House of Representatives so they can see the many benefits of Kratom and help to keep Kratom Safe. The bill is currently being reviewed by the judiciary committee for the House of Representatives in South Carolina. Please reach out to its members, leave voicemails, send emails. Show them that this plant should stay legal.