Mitragyna speciosa is the plant from which people derive Kratom extract. It is a plant native to countries of Southeast Asia like Thailand, Myanmar, Borneo, Papua New Guinea, etc. It has dark gray leaves and long leaves, which are dark green. The tree grows quite tall, achieving a height of nearly 25 m.
People in Southeast Asian countries have been using the herb for many therapeutic purposes, like relieving chronic pain. However, research is scarcely available to prove Kratom’s medicinal benefits. Yet, despite knowing there is no proof of the medicinal benefits, people still keep believing in it and spread the word through word of mouth.
Kratom use has recently become popular, and with the popularity, there come legality challenges for drugs. This article will try to answer the question, ‘is kratom legal in hawaii?’. We will also discuss the legal standards regarding Kratom in other countries.
What Are Kratom Alkaloids?
Kratom contains more than 40 essential alkaloids: mitragynine and 7-hydroxy mitragynine. These alkaloids may act as pain relievers. Besides these two compounds, raubasine, mitraphylline, rhynchophylline, etc., are also important.
Kratom contains more than 40 vital alkaloids: mitragynine and 7-hydroxy mitragynine. These alkaloids may act as pain relievers. Besides these two compounds, raubasine, mitraphylline, rhynchophylline, etc., are also important.
Other than these alkaloids, there are many secondary metabolites like saponins, iridoids, triterpenoids, and monoterpenoids. People say these metabolites may bring specific medicinal properties to the extract.
What Are The Different Kratom Strains?
There are various Kratom strains related to the different colors of the vein. However, the primary strains are red, green, and white strains.
There are two less-known strains – the yellow strain and the bentuangie strain.
Red Strain
Some of the most high-quality Kratom products come from red Kratom strains. This is because cultivators use matured Kratom leaves to produce the strain. Red Indo and Red Maeng Da are some notable examples.
Green Strain
These strains come from semi-matured Kratom leaves. Kratom buyers enjoy the strain because of the balanced alkaloid levels. Green Malay and Green Indo are famous strains.
White Strain
These strains come from immature leaves and are the least potent. However, they stay in demand due to less availability of the leaves. White Borneo is the best example of a white strain.
Yellow Strain
Better known as the gold strain, the yellow strain has a different potency and consistency than the other three strains. Thus, it is a little famous.
Important Facts To Keep In Mind When Talking About Kratom Legality In Hawaii
The Kratom legality is different for different countries around the world. Most nations worldwide do not allow the sale of Kratom and have imposed strict restrictions on the substance. Let’s see the drug’s legal status in the USA and Hawaii, a coastal state inside the country.
Is Kratom Legal In Hawaii?
Operating smoke shops and buying Kratom products in Hawaii is entirely legal. However, there are age restrictions regarding Kratom consumption and other substances. The legal age is 21 years. However, Kratom undergoes stages of concern often in the state.
Sometimes lawmakers come up with laws preventing drug consumption inside the state. However, to the date of writing, there are no such restrictions.
Recent Court Cases Regarding Kratom in Hawaii
In 2018, state legislators tried interfering with the regulatory guidelines to amend the laws regarding citizens’ responsible consumption of Kratom. The lawmakers amended the S.B.2826 bill for this purpose. The amendment put Kratom on the list of substances one should check for highway safety.
The law asked for public opinion, and in February 2019, the bill named S.B.641 came into force. It put Kratom on the intoxicant list when driving on a highway in Hawaii. Thus, the court case was not for banning Kratom but for treating it as a health concern on the highways.
Why Do Countries Ban Kratom?
Kratom is legal in very few countries. Countries with a ban on the substance include Australia, Denmark, Finland, Israel, Japan, Latvia, Russia, Sweden, South Korea, etc.
Kratom, like other opioid substances, leads to addiction, which is one of the prime causes why countries term Kratom an illegal entity.
Side effects are also a concern alongside repeated cases of overdosing. Repeated overdosing may be fatal or highly harmful to health in the long run. Thus, one should be very aware of the dosage that one consumes. In addition, you should know how much Kratom your body can handle.
Thus, public health and safety are the primary reasons most countries have banned Kratom in their territorial jurisdiction.
About Drug Enforcement Administration And The Kratom Consumer Protection Act
DEA, or the Drug Enforcement Administration, is the highest drug enforcement agency in the USA. The DEA checks on Kratom abuse and any drug abuse in general. The agency circulates many regulatory guidelines for the proper use of the substance. The four activities of the DEA include:
- Regulation of the manufacturing and distribution of pharmaceuticals and chemicals that the agency lists in the DEA’s Diversion Control Division.
- DEA coordinates with other enforcement authorities to analyze and collect drug samples for examination purposes.
- DEA penalizes illegal sellers and sellers who sell pharmaceuticals outside the authorities’ guidelines.
- DEA runs educational campaigns like the Red Ribbon Campaign, National Take back Day, etc.
KCPA, or Kratom Consumer protection act, is a result of the diligent work of Kratom advocates. It is a bill that will regulate the Kratom industry in the whole nation. There are many concerns that KCPA will address. These include:
- Manufacturing and distribution of good-quality products
- The products sold in the market should have test reports and be free from heavy metals like arsenic and harmful microbes that may cause human diseases.
- No vendor can sell Kratom to customers below 21 years of age.
- The government will impose fines and penalties on the vendor if they don’t follow the regulations.
- The products must undergo third-party lab testing, and the websites should have the lab reports transparently.
- Kratom products should have accurate labels and shouldn’t promote false information.
The act makes Kratom consumption safer and ensures that vendors follow the regulations strictly. The American Kratom Association, better known as the AKA, was responsible for KCPA. They did it along with the Botanical Education Alliance or the BEA.
An Insight Into The Kratom Industry
Kratom use has been gaining steady popularity over the years. The plant has a current worth of $367 million. However, experts predict the industry will surpass $22 billion by 2025. Records show that around 3 million to 5 million Americans take Kratom daily, which shows how popular the drug is in the country. If we talk globally, there may be at least 100 million people consuming it.
Thus, we can see that the Kratom industry and business are thriving in the country and worldwide, attracting loads of new vendors in the market. Some fail, while some make great names for themselves.
The Current Market In Hawaii And Globally
The Kratom market looks enticing in Hawaii since the global market is expanding at a good pace. The extract has always been famous in Hawaii because you can spot many smoke shops and vape shops throughout the state. However, to the date of writing, you will be free to enjoy Kratom within the state’s dominion.
Is Kratom Legal In The USA?
Although Kratom is a controlled substance in the USA, at a federal level, it is legal to produce and consume Kratom products inside the country. In addition, most states, like New Hampshire, have legalized the drug, while others have termed it illegal.
The FDA, or the Food and Drug Authority, looks into the quality of the drugs sold. For example, the FDA doesn’t like people to consume Kratom and regularly comes up with health warnings to educate people about the risks involved in consuming it.
State legislators have the upper hand in making a drug legal in the states. Currently, there are a few states where Kratom is banned. These include – Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin. In addition, San Diego is a city in California that doesn’t allow consuming Kratom. Other states may have some regulations on Kratom but have yet to ban it.
Currently, Kratom is a Schedule I drug, but DEA has planned to change its status to schedule iv.
The Future
The future will look strong if countries reduce their dependence on Southeast Asian countries for plants and start growing their plants. However, if someday those countries stop exporting or ban extracting in their dominions, the industry may lose heavily. Thus, importing countries should take precautions.
With increasing research, experts may start using Kratom to treat disorders. However, there are scarce details on whether one can use Kratom as a therapeutic extract. For better research to follow, more countries should come together.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately we would like to tell you that you should always consume high-quality products and buy Kratom from quality vendors. Furthermore, your duty as a responsible citizen is to only consume Kratom in places with legal status.
People say that Kratom may help with opioid withdrawal. They may also consume kratom for pain and anxiety and related issues. However, you should know that drugs lead to addiction, which is the primary problem of the youth. Addiction leads to other problems like overdoses. These are the primary reasons why many countries have banned plant-based extract. Addiction to anything seldom leads to good ways.
Through this article, hopefully, we could reveal the legal status of Kratom in Hawaii and which other places Kratom is legal. Places where mitragyna speciosa and other controlled substances are legal to sell better quality drugs than places where it is illegal. So, if you wish to buy Kratom in Hawaii, you don’t have to worry.
