California is a pretty chill state when it comes to botanical laws. In fact, in the ’90s, they were the first state to legalize medical marijuana. Recreational marijuana is currently legal in California as well. With these types of lax laws, is kratom legal in California? You may be surprised to know that kratom is legal in all areas of California except for San Diego. In this guide, we will go over all things kratom and the legalities within California.
In most areas of the United States kratom is legal, but some states have banned its use. California is unique in the fact that they allow kratom use in all areas except for San Diego.
So, you can buy kratom locally in all major cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, and Oakland. However, if you are caught with kratom in San Diego you will be facing criminal charges. You will want to use caution when traveling with kratom in California.
In 2016, San Diego banned the sale, use, and possession of kratom. City officials believed they had enough evidence to deem kratom unsafe. This came shortly after a few deaths were linked to gas station brand kratom that was laced with painkillers.
Kratom was then lumped into the category of synthetic drugs along with bath salts and synthetic forms of marijuana. This is the usual type of measure that city officials go with when wanting to ban kratom. San Diego treated kratom like any other Schedule I drug. Possession of kratom would be a misdemeanor, while possession with the intent to sell would be a felony.
In 2020, San Diego County wanted to follow in the footsteps of the city of San Diego. It is the second most populated county in California and the implications of a kratom banned here could be huge. In February 2020, the board of county supervisors voted 4-1 against declaring the plant a public health nuisance.
They gave the county 60 days to come up with a solution. Their decision came after hearing the positive side of kratom from users. The pandemic has delayed the next vote, but county officials are on board with adopting the Kratom Consumer Protection Act rather than opposing a county-wide ban of kratom.
Now that you know the answer to, “Is kratom legal in California?” You may be wondering what types of stores offer kratom. Kratom is offered in vape shops, smoke shops, dispensaries, specialty shops, and some gas stations. Not all of these places will offer high-quality kratom, so you have to do some homework before making a purchase.
A lot of people choose to buy their kratom online because they can get a better price, have more selection to choose from, and the products are of higher quality. If you want to check out some local places, we have listed some shops below.
Up In Smoke Smoke Shop (CBD + Kratom)
Cigarettes For Less
Tobacco Castle
Blue Dream LA Smoke Shop
If you are looking to offer your customers kratom you may be wanting to find a vendor who offers wholesale. You can check with some of your local shops to see if they have a kratom wholesale program, but more than likely they do not. Your best option when wanting to buy kratom in bulk is to work with an online vendor. They will have better quality kratom and it will be offered at a discounted rate compared to local vendors. Online vendors often work with farmers directly, which means there is no middle man and the product is offered at a slightly lower rate. It also proves to be of higher quality and this is why most wholesalers opt to work with vendors online.
Kratom originates from Southeast Asia and requires a tropical climate to thrive. The seedlings must be planted within a few days of leaving the host trees, so the chances of finding a kratom plant anywhere in the United States are very slim. It is very hard to grow kratom anywhere but in its native country. So, no, you will not find these types of plants for sale in California.
Yes, you can order kratom online and have it shipped to your home. Online vendors will comply with state laws so you still will not be able to access kratom if you live in San Diego. However, most people opt to buy their kratom online because they have more selection and the pricing is always better. Online vendors do not have the overhead that brick-and-mortar stores do.
Nothing is impossible, but kratom seedlings must be fresh to survive. So, the success rate of your kratom seedlings surviving is very slim. If they do survive and sprout you will have to ensure that you create an environment that mimics the climate found in Southeast Asia. Otherwise, your plant will not thrive.
The future is never clear when it comes to kratom. The only way to save kratom from becoming banned in the future is by adopting the Kratom Consumer Protection Act. This act will address all the current issues that the industry has and also help keep kratom legal. So, there is a possibility of kratom becoming banned in California until they decide to adopt the KCPA.
The American Kratom Association is the main support group across the nation. They have been very successful in overturning kratom bans, as well as putting in place regulations for the kratom industry.
To become a part of the AKA, vendors must pass an audit and adhere to all GMP regulations that the AKA has outlined. This helps ensure that the kratom coming to market is pure and unadulterated.
Also, the AKA is working to get all states to abide by the KCPA (Kratom Consumer Protection Act). This act will address several issues including labeling, age restrictions, and fines. To find out more about the American Kratom Association visit their website.
The KCPA was put together by the American Kratom Association. This act aims to help improve the industry by adding much-needed regulations on products. The AKA has made it their goal to get all states to adopt this act.
We are proud members of the American Kratom Association. We offer the highest quality kratom powders and capsules that the market has to offer. All of our products go through third-party testing to check for several contaminants including salmonella, staph, and yeast. These tests will also prove the quality and purity of the product.
If you have any questions about our kratom products when shopping our site please do not hesitate to reach out to us. This guide was created to help address all your questions about, “Is kratom legal in California?”
