Veteran Urges Louisiana Lawmakers: Don’t Criminalize Kratom, Support Those in Pain

As Louisiana lawmakers consider Senate Bill 154, which would criminalize kratom by classifying it alongside heroin and LSD, veterans like Marlon Chouccoli are speaking out. In a guest column for NOLA.com, Chouccoli shares his journey from war injuries and opioid dependence to recovery aided by kratom, a Southeast Asian plant used by millions for pain and opioid withdrawal.

Chouccoli argues that criminalizing kratom would punish those seeking alternatives to addictive pharmaceuticals, pushing the substance underground and increasing risks for veterans and others in pain. He calls for responsible regulation, not prohibition, urging lawmakers to honor veterans with policies rooted in compassion and evidence, not fear.