5 Things To Know About Buying Kratom

Whether you’re looking for where to buy kratom for the first time, or you’ve been buying it for a while, there are a few important kratom facts you should know about kratom products and kratom vendors. Here’s our guide for choosing where to buy kratom, and what to look for in a kratom vendor.

1. Not All Kratom Vendors Are Honest

It’s no secret that there’s a lot of kratom misinformation out there that gives kratom a bad rap. Fortunately, recent scientific studies on kratom help dispel myths about the plant and provide evidence-based facts.

What new kratom buyers don’t always realize, however, is that not all kratom vendors know what they’re talking about. While some kratom vendors passionately follow kratom news, new research, and facts—others are just in the business for profit. They might not know much about their products and thus make unfounded claims.

When choosing where to buy kratom, you want to look at their website content to see how involved they are with kratom standards and product quality. The best places to buy kratom will often show that they make an effort to provide quality kratom and accurate information.  For example, their About page may show that they’re members of the American Kratom Association (AKA) and follow the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).

2. Know What to Look for in Lab Test Certificates

One of the first things you’ll want to look at when deciding where to buy kratom online is to see if they provide kratom lab test certificates. Lab tests provide an analysis of the vendor’s kratom products, proving that the kratom is uncontaminated with other substances or heavy metals.

Unfortunately, fake kratom lab tests are more common than you might think. How can you tell if a kratom lab test certificate is fake or real?  Here’s what to look out for in a kratom lab certification:

• The name of the laboratory: Research laboratory to check if it’s real, reputable, and has some accreditation.

• Laboratory ID: The lab test certificate should show the lab’s ID number, which makes the sample of the particular batch traceable. If you can’t find the lab ID number anywhere in the report, avoid that vendor; it’s not a reliable lab test.

• Sample name (ID): The product name that was submitted for testing (i.e.
  “Full Spectrum kratom blend.” It should be specific enough for you to tell that it’s the product you’re asking about.

• Method of testing: While there are many different types of reagents and testing solutions, you’ll want to make sure that the one the lab in question used is safe.
• Alkaloid, metal, and microbiological profiles: All of these test results should be available for the customer. It shouldn’t just test for “mercury,” “E. coli” or one alkaloid, but a full range of results. Checking the whole panel is important to assure the quality of the product.

Somewhere on the website, kratom vendors should offer contact info for customers to access their most recent lab tests to the customer. Even if they have many products, they should be able to email you the most recent lab test for the specific product you’re asking about.

If a vendor only has a few test reports up on their website and they’re either old or not for the product you want to view, contact them to see if they can send you a recent and relevant report. 

3. Not All Kratom Strains Are The Same

As we mentioned earlier, kratom suffers from misinformation, and that affects marketing. Some kratom consumers (and even vendors) claim that all kratom strains are the same thing. This idea originates from the kratom vendors who truly don’t know which processes went into their products.

For example, a kratom vendor may describe one of their yellow strains as “fermented,” even if they have no idea what drying process that batch of kratom actually underwent—but it might just be a mix of two of their other products. That said, the three main kratom vein colors—red, green, and white—have different alkaloid contents that come from the different drying processes that the leaves went through. What is true, however, is that all kratom strains come from the same type of plant.

When deciding on what types of kratom strains to get, you’ll first want to figure out if you prefer red vein, green vein, or white vein. Then, within those color groups, there are different varieties. If you buy quality kratom powder, you should be able to tell subtle differences in the taste and smell in different strains, and you may notice different kratom effects from their different alkaloid profiles.

4. Kratom Vendors Have Restrictions on What They Can Say

If you’ve ever noticed that kratom vendors sometimes sound a bit vague, it’s not for nothing. Kratom vendors can’t make specific claims about the effects of kratom. 

Kratom is not approved by the FDA, vendors can’t make health claims about kratom. The same is true for vitamins and supplements, which aren’t regulated by the FDA. This is unfortunate for several reasons.

On one hand, even if a kratom consumer finds the plant helpful for managing something like depression, vendors can’t promote this as a benefit of kratom. On the other hand, being exempt from making claims means that the quality of kratom and supplements can vary wildly.

This is why there’s such a large push right now for the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA), which is designed to regulate kratom to meet certain quality standards.

5. Kratom’s Legality is at Stake 

Kratom is currently illegal in these states: Alabama, Wisconsin, Vermont, Indiana, and Arkansas. It is also illegal in certain counties, such as Sarasota County, FL. In states and counties where kratom is illegal, you cannot buy or sell it—online or in-store.

The kratom community has many kratom advocates who get involved with the American Kratom Association to write to their state senators and representatives, urging them to pass legislation that regulates kratom according to the KCPA. 

If you’re looking to buy kratom, it’s good to keep up with kratom news and community efforts. You don’t want to end up driving through a city where kratom is illegal, getting pulled over, and charged for having it on you.

Take Your Time and Do Your Research

When deciding where to buy kratom, you shouldn’t rush it. Look for customer reviews and testimonials, store reputation, and their return policy. Furthermore, make sure the kratom you buy has been tested by a valid and reliable lab.

A good place to start when finding where to buy kratom is to look at vendors that have the endorsement of The American Kratom Association or are going through the process of getting endorsed. An AKA endorsement means that the vendor has passed an audit to confirm that they adhere to the highest quality standards for kratom products. If you currently have a vendor, you may wish to check to see if they follow our guidelines for good kratom sellers.