u/Moghwyn_Hierophant

This is a summary of info and what to do from someone I know in Philly.

Bill Number 26016300! Please get that completely correct! This is one of those last second sneak kratom in the bill language scenarios.

They are pulling some PDF BS on us because they know a lot of us are LAZY. Don't be lazy! Convert your documents to PDF!

For those that may not be sure how to do this, on either Windows/Mac, go to Google Docs online. It's Microsoft Word for free in browser. Write your comment. When you are done, go to File, Download, and select PDF as your download. Then add that downloaded file to your email comment (I would recommend naming it Bill 26016300 Comment from X Name Y Last Name

Copy pastes are better than nothing but write a real statement if you have the time please.

Ban hearing for philly Thursday the 21st at noon! Public comment period can be sent to chiefclerk@phila.gov as a pdf file attached to email. We need to stop this guys!!!Put name and bill number 26016300 or it will not be counted

Also email the city council members

Sean.McMonagle@phila.gov

Joshua.cohen@phila.gov

katherine.gilmore.richardson@phila.gov

Eliza.Alford@phila.gov

Mary.Jones@phila.gov

Jeffery.young@phila.gov

Mike.driscoll@phila.gov

Hopefully no one throws tomatoes at me for saying this...

But we all need to dress well, speak well, keep our cool, and if giving video testimony, clean our rooms.

I am growing tired of seeing excellent turnout for in person testimony and a huge number of video testimonies, and seeing people dressed like slobs, looking messy, having unmade beds, wearing hats, shaven/groomed poorly, and surrounded by clutter if they appear by/submit a video. Please know I am not personally judging you, I look like a hobo as I type this in an unmade bed next to a pile of week old clothes that need a wash, but I'm not testifying at the moment.

It is damaging our efforts. Unfortunately we need to meet these legislators on their terms. Is suit and tie best or a female equivalent best? Sure, but I understand many of us cannot afford that. For those of us that can't, at the very least find something with a collar, maybe sleeves too. Don't roll up in sandals. Go to a clean area of your home if you testify on video (if you have no home or car, walk somewhere that isn't by the side of the road).

We also should probably refrain from "war stories" (tales of extreme addiction tales from the past) and how good kratom makes us feel (cause let's be real, at the right dose and strain it can be very euphoric). Anti-kratom legislators and people on the fence don't need to be imagining kratom in the same category as hard drugs.

We all know that we are right, and we also know that the way we dress doesn't have an impact on the validity, cogency, and soundness of our arguments! But, and big but, legislators are allowed to be as fallacious and illogical as they want! They don't follow the rules of morality and logic.

One of us can testify, write them, submit video testimony, protest, etc. and demand that the sky is blue, but if we do it wearing Cookie Monster pajama pants and acting too casual, they will argue that the sky is red just to spite us.

I really hate to sound like such a snob because y'all should see me right now looking like a gremlin typing this when I haven't even showered today, but I imagine you get my point.

Just my thoughts. This is not targeting anyone or saying that anyone's testimony or advocacy has been useless or unwanted. I appreciate each and everyone of you that saved Iowa and SC, and everyone that tried to save the rest tooth and nail. However, going forward, we must do our best.

These are just little things I am speaking of but in the Age of the Internet with constant onslaught of news and social media, people tend to judge by appearances and manners of speaking.

Please do not take this as me judging any of you. I am telling you that the legislators are and will always be judging you and to give them the least possible ammunition. Consider each moment of advocacy or testimony an "away game". Should we have to act like we are playing on someone else's turf in our own states/nation? Absolutely not, but what we should ideally have to do vs. what we actually do have to do are different in reality. We need to speak their language and play their stupid little games.

It's a small sacrifice to pay to keep our medicine. I hate wearing a damn tie but I will if I means not doing so may take my God-given rights away.

With sincerity,

- D