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From Myanmar to Indonesia, people have been familiar with Kratom for centuries. Kratom is native to Southeast Asia but is still largely unknown in North America. As a result, finding it locally is not always an easy task. Sometimes, it is outright impossible.
If you live in a region where Kratom is legal, it may be available for sale in storefronts and even gas stations. It is also likely available in smoke shops, health chains, or specialty stores, and it is for sale online. Before we answer the common question “where you I find Kratom near me?”, however, we need to discuss the elephant in the room.
Is Kratom Legal in Your Location?
Let’s address the important stuff first. Some treat Kratom as a life-changing supplement; according to others, it is a dangerous drug. Here’s the million-dollar question: is Kratom legal?
Unfortunately, there is no straightforward answer. Currently, Kratom exists in a legal grey area. In most places around the World, Kratom is legal.
In the United States, Kratom is not a controlled substance, however, there have been moves in certain agencies to consider listing it as a Schedule I drug, alongside marijuana, MDMA, and heroin. Currently, Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, and Vermont have banned Kratom. In these states, it is considered a controlled substance.
FDA analysis has demonstrated that Kratom has opioid-lik properties. These properties likely give it its value for pain management; however, according to the DEA, they also make it susceptible to abuse and addiction. As of yet, the DEA has not listed Kratom as a Schedule I drug.
In the rest of the World, about sixteen countries consider Kratom to be a recreational drug susceptible to abuse and have it listed as a controlled substance. Other countries have been looking into the matter quite extensively and may follow suit.
Countries in which Kratom is illicit include Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Denmark, Sweden, Romania, Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania. Also, ASEAN countries have banned the sale of Kratom as a health supplement or medicinal ingredient.
Where Can You Buy Kratom Locally?
If Kratom is legal in your location and you understand what you are buying, there are a few options for sourcing locally. However, some options are significantly better than others and we’ll discuss why.
Where NOT To Buy
Gas Stations – In general, we recommend against buying Kratom in gas stations, convenience stores, or similar outlets. These places usually carry Kratom brands of a low quality variety. By low quality Kratom, we mean the product itself is often not potent and they have hyped-up and sometimes straight-up unreliable packaging or information available regarding the effects and uses of Kratom, especially about strains, quality, and dosage. Some brands don’t even tell you the specific strain you are buying! They are also likely to have inflated prices. Honestly, these brands portray Kratom in a bad way and do little for helping improve Kratom’s legal status around the world.
States Where it is Illegal – If you are in a region where Kratom is illicit, do not purchase it. Even if you can find it for sale, it may be illegal to possess and of unsafe or untested quality.
Where You SHOULD Buy
Smoke Shops / Head Shops – Occasionally, a smoke shop or health store will sell Kratom, Kratom extracts or other Kratom products alongside vaping products and things like Kava and Akuamma seeds. These stores are generally safe and informative places to buy from, but specialty shops are typically the best physical location to get quality Kratom.
Specialty Stores – If Kratom is available in your region, it is best to seek out a specialty store. Why? Because you know you’re buying Kratom that is safe and tested, and the information available from a local shop with a knowledgeable shop owner should be accurate and detailed. Plus, the workers are likely knowledgeable and informed. Kratom is a supplement and drug, so it is necessary to know what you are ingesting, and they can likely offer advice on specific strains for you.
Online Retailers – Kratom is widely available online. To some people, an online Kratom shop might seem sketchy; however, online marketplaces are not dirty, backroom, underground suppliers. In our opinion, some of the most trustworthy and reliable suppliers of Kratom are based purely online. These are legal, safe and professional operations that deliver high quality Kratom and typically have a larger variety of Kratom strains. Seeking out a quality online retailer is our recommended method of purchase.
Why Buy Kratom Online?
Buying online is the best option when it comes to Kratom, primarily because Kratom is still not widely produced or distributed. When you buy online, you have access to suppliers and professionals from regions other than your own, allowing you to access the best quality products, well-tested Kratom strains, and competitive prices. (Many online Kratom brands online carry out lab testing of their products.)
In your local area, you may only have illicit or third-party vendors, or just low quality brands available, as discussed above. Online, you can directly engage with reputable vendors and producers. If you have any specific questions or concerns, it is easy to direct them to customer service professionals or salespeople.
Online Kratom vendors generally offer verified methods of payment and reliable shipping options. If you have any issues with your order, it is easy to follow up with the vendor or with the shipping company directly. And, if the Kratom vendor offers a money back guarantee or a refund policy, even better.
How Is Kratom Sold?
Kratom comes in various forms. The most common is powdered Kratom, but Kratom leaf and capsules are also very popular. Kratom also comes as an extract. Extracts include oils, resins, tinctures, and liquids. Kratom extracts work by extracting the alkaloids from the dried leaves of the plant into a more concentrated form, thus making it very potent. People use Kratom powder, leaf and extracts to make teas or other ingestibles.
A wide range of companies sells Kratom products. As you might expect, these companies sell different strains, forms, and accessories. They also have varying safety and quality assurance practices. In the digital era, the options are pretty diverse.
What Do I Need To Consider When Buying?
The first thing to consider when buying Kratom is your local regulations regarding the plant. There is no point ordering Kratom online or elsewhere only to discover that it is a controlled and illicit substance in your area. While it is up to the individual whether or not they choose to take Kratom, you must be aware of potential legal repercussions.
You must familiarize yourself with the substance. Take the time to look into the benefits of Kratom as well as the potential side effects. Then, make sure that you know dosages, extract grades, and strain differences.
Figure out how you want to use Kratom and tailor your purchases to these requirements. If you are a regular Kratom user, it may be worth buying a larger quantity to save money. Wholesale purchase is likely only possible online. Buying in this way also helps if you have a particular dosage cycle or medical needs as you do not want your supply to run short.
What Exactly Is Kratom?
Kratom may also go by the names biak-biak, ketum, thom, or krypton. As mentioned, Kratom comes from the dried leaves of the Mitragyna speciosa tree. It is a traditional medicine, recreational drug, and regularly used supplement.
Kratom is a source of alkaloids. Alkaloids are a class of basic (in the chemical sense) organic compounds that naturally occur in bacteria, animals, plants, and fungi. Many alkaloids play a role in medicines and drugs, from anti-malaria medicines to caffeine. There are over 25 alkaloids in Kratom, including mitragynine, 7-hydroxy mitragynine, mitraphylline, and raubasine.
Practically speaking, Kratom is an ingestible substance. Ingesting Kratom has a wide range of effects on the body, both positive and negative. The effects of Kratom were discovered and harnessed early on for medicinal and recreational purposes. As a result, people have been ingesting Kratom for generations.
Contemporarily, Kratom usually comes in extract, powder, liquid, oil, and capsule form.
What Does It Do?
Kratom has a plethora of uses. In low doses, the substance has stimulative effects. It boosts energy, mood and awareness and may also lessen anxiety and stress, relieve pain or discomfort, and lower fever and blood pressure. As the dosage increases, so does the strength of the effects. Some people enjoy the relaxing, sedative effects of Kratom and specifically seek out strains which tend to induce sedation. These people are often self-medicators or recreational users.
People suffering from opioid withdrawal use Kratom to handle the discomfort and reduce the unpleasant side effects. Though this is not a recommended mainstream approach, anecdotal evidence frequently supports its use. For the most part, the benefits of Kratom have not been scientifically tested or proven. For this reason, it is not available in most pharmacies. That said, traditional practices in numerous cultures and societies give credence to the value of this substance.
Conclusion
Because it is relatively new in the western world, there are a lot of things that go into buying Kratom locally. These include where you live, local regulations and laws, and local supply options. It also comes down to preference and usage habits. Consider these things carefully before making a purchase. Ultimately, in this day and age, asking “where can I get Kratom near me?” may be less relevant since your best options are probably online and may not be based in your local area. 😉
