How to Buy Kratom

Kratom is an herbal substance that falls somewhere on the spectrum between coffee and opiates. If you’re thinking that seems like a rather vast spectrum, you’re not wrong. But that’s what makes kratom such an intriguing drug.

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It’s also part of what has stumped policy makers, leaving kratom as a largely unregulated substance in the United States.

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The consequence is that in order to buy kratom, you have to know how to navigate somewhat ambiguous legal and safety concerns. That’s why we’re devoting this article to how to buy kratom.

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We’ll cover:

·       What is kratom and what does it do

·       Where is kratom legal

·       What to look for

·       How to be safe

·       Where to buy kratom

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What is Kratom?

We mentioned that kratom straddles the somewhat wide gap between coffee and opiates. What exactly does that mean?

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First of all, kratom is an herbal substance that derives from a tree native to Southeast Asia. In fact, the tree itself is in the same family as the coffee plant. Kratom leaves can be chewed or brewed as a tea. They can also be made into powders or tablets.

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In Thailand and neighboring countries, kratom is consumed daily by some. It is a cultural and social habit, much like coffee is in the United States. It provides energy to manual laborers to help them get through the work day. It is also consumed socially in tea shops, analogous to American cafes.

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While at lower doses kratom is often considered a relatively innocuous stimulant like coffee, at higher doses it can have much more powerful effects. In fact, kratom interacts with opioid receptors in the brain to produce potent analgesic and sedative, and even euphoric effects.

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In fact, one of the most common uses of kratom is as a treatment for opioid withdrawal. Another important usage is as a safer and more accessible pain reliever, in lieu of opioids. For example, in some studies kratom has been shown to be even more powerful than morphine. And yet, unlike opioids, kratom does not appear to pose a risk of respiratory depression, a potentially fatal complication of opioid use.

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Like coffee and opiates, kratom is addictive. However, the withdrawal effects are thought to be somewhat milder compared to opioid withdrawal symptoms.

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For more information on the effects and benefits of kratom, you can check out this article: What is kratom?

Is it Legal to Buy Kratom in the US?

So, we have a substance that is simultaneously a lot like coffee, and yet a lot like opioids. How does that government view such a substance? Is it legal or not?

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There’s definitely been some heated debate on the subject, but for now kratom is legal in most US states. In 2016, it was briefly classified as an emergency Schedule I substance. That would mean that, in the eyes of the government, kratom has no medical use and a high potential for abuse. For perspective, other Schedule I drugs include heroin, marijuana, and LSD.

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However, there was so much public and academic push-back on the emergency ban that it was quickly revoked.

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Kratom is now legal in most of the US, with only a handful of exceptions. The plus side of this is that kratom is readily available, and could be a life-safer for people suffering from chronic pain. On the other hand, the lack of regulation means that it is extra important to do your research and buy from a reliable supplier. Be sure to check if kratom is legal in your state and locality before buying. Even if kratom is legal in your state, your city could have extra regulations imposed around it. (For example, kratom is legal in California, but illegal in San Diego.)

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For more details on the legal status of kratom, you can check out this article: Is Kratom Legal?

What to Look for When Buying Kratom

Part of the reason for the heated debate over the legal-status of kratom is that there isn’t a ton of research on it yet. Although kratom has had a long history of use in the East, we don’t have as much scientific knowledge about it as we would like.

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From what we know so far, here are a few factors to consider when buying kratom:

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Strain – Like most herbal substances, different strains of kratom can have slightly different effects. If you’re a cannabis user, you are probably already familiar with this idea. Depending on your desired effect, you may wish to try out different strains of kratom. For a more powerful pain-relieving effect, the red vein variety from Bali may be the best choice. For stimulant and mood-lifting effects, the white and green vein varieties from Malaysia are better suited. The white vein is reported to be the most energizing strain.

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Dosage – Although more research is needed to verify the dose-dependent effects of kratom, it is currently thought that dosing plays a big role. If you’re looking for a stimulant, you should stick to lower doses. At higher doses, kratom is more likely to have sedative and analgesic effects. A reliable supplier should be able to provide you with a dosage guide on their product.

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Delivery method – Kratom can be consumed in a variety of forms. Traditionally, in Southeast Asia, kratom users chew on leaves or boil them into a tea. Conversely, in the west, kratom is more often available in powdered or tablet form. Researchers have conjectured that this may contribute to the relatively higher incidence of severe side effects from kratom use in the West. While it may not be feasible to chew on kratom leaves, this is another reason why you should find a trusted company and communicate with them to understand appropriate usage.

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How to Be Safe When Buying Kratom

As we’ve already mentioned, the lack of regulatory control over kratom is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it means people have free access to a powerful, potentially life-changing substance. On the other hand, it means that consumers need to take responsibility for their own safety.

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With the exception of its addictive properties, kratom is generally thought to have a relatively good safety profile. The predominant safety concern when it comes to kratom use is actually drug-drug interactions.

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The precautions you can take to avoid dangerous drug-drug interactions with kratom are:

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1.       Avoid taking kratom alongside other substances

2.       Purchase kratom from a reliable supplier who can verify the purity of the product

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Where to Buy Kratom

Thanks to the lax legal regulations around kratom, you can easily purchase kratom online in most states. This brings us to one final major consideration regarding kratom safety in the United States. It has to do with the cultural context of kratom use in the West compared to Southeast Asia.

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In Southeast Asia, kratom is part of a long tradition, so people have a cultural understanding of best practices. In the United States, kratom can more easily be consumed without any cultural context, which is why there is a higher incidence of severe side effects and fatalities from kratom use in this country.

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One way to mitigate this cultural gap is to foster education about kratom, and clear communication between the supplier and the consumer.

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Green Dragon is proud to supply you with kratom products from our hand-picked list of trusted, dependable brands.

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Green Dragon is also available for free consultations to help facilitate your safe use of kratom products. So, as always, please don’t hesitate to contact us for a free consultation regarding kratom or any of our products.