Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to sign this petition and share your perspectives. I understand there are strong concerns about how Iowa should approach kratom, including concerns about misuse and safety.

From my standpoint, I would prefer a more well-reasoned approach focused on targeted safeguards—for example, age restrictions and restricted access—rather than placing kratom into Schedule I. I’m not convinced that scheduling it will, by itself, solve the underlying problem of abuse.

I appreciate constituents engaging on this issue, and I encourage you to continue sharing your input as the legislative process moves forward.