Is Kratom Legal In San Francisco?

Kratom is perfectly legal in San Francisco and the entire state of California, except San Diego and Oceanside. Furthermore, authorities never tried to ban kratom in the state.

In addition to delving into kratom’s legal status in San Francisco, we will provide you with a lot of valuable information on the herb. We’ve created two lists with the best local and online kratom shops so you can choose whichever suits your needs best. If you got here by searching for “kratom near me” on Google, or you’re just curious, we’ve got you covered.

Is Kratom Legal in San Francisco?

Yes, kratom is legal in San Francisco and most of California.

Still, cities and counties are allowed to regulate it locally, which is why San Diego and Oceanside banned it in 2016. Aside from these local bans, there are no other relevant regulations in California regarding kratom, so you can buy and use it as you please.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently reconsidered banning kratom, which would influence its legality in the United States and the rest of the world. Luckily, the WHO Executive Committee on Drug Dependency stated there’s insufficient evidence to recommend a critical review of kratom at this time.

Currently, kratom is legal in most parts of the world, except in six states and a few countries. Still, as authorities constantly seek to forbid it, you would do well by staying up to date with the laws.

Top 5 Kratom Shops in San Francisco

We rounded up five highly-rated kratom shops in San Francisco, so you don’t have to.

1. Bumble Bee Botanicals

This store is the only one in San Francisco specializing exclusively in kratom, having it all, from powder to capsules and extract form. In addition, everything is lab tested for biological contaminants, yeast, and mold.

At Bumble Bee Botanicals, you’ll find a wide selection of strains, such as Red Bentuangie, Green Hulu Kapuas, and Golden Bali, to name the most exotic. The staff is very respectful and knowledgeable, and you can buy from as little as one gram of kratom powder to several kilos.

You can find this store at 3215 17th St, where it’s open every day from 11 am to 7 pm. Call (415) 275-0240 or check out its website for further inquiries.

2. Twisted Thistle Apothecary

Twisted Thistle Apothecary is another store where you’ll get quality kratom in San Francisco. Its products are a bit pricey, but they are pure and lab-tested, so it’s worth spending an extra buck.

The staff knows their products to perfection and will guide you towards a purchase that will satisfy you. It also offers different infusions, superfoods, natural beauty products, and more. The address is 1391 Haight St, or you can call (415) 626-4372 or check it out online.

3. Smoking Aces

When you visit Smoking Aces, you immediately notice the attention of its owner, who provides first-class customer service. This store sells a wide variety of smoking accessories, with an even more extensive selection of top-notch kratom. The prices are reasonable, and it often offers discounts.

The store is located at 1108 Polk St. and is open from 10 am to 1 am. Unfortunately, there’s no website, so feel free to call (415) 441-4877, and someone will be happy to assist you.

4. Smoker Friendly

This smoke shop has the most reasonable prices in town, and while mainly a cigar store, it also sells kratom, although not as many varieties as other stores. The most popular strains are Green Elephant, Red Malaysian, and White Thai. Also, the clerks are accommodating and are always willing to help you out.

You can visit them at 2007 Mission St from 9 am to 9 pm. If you have any further questions, you can also call them at (415) 437-4763 or check the website.

5. Organic Alkaloids

Organic Alkaloids sells lab-tested, quality kratom, including twelve kratom strains, with some of the best-sellers being Green Dark, Red Sumatra, and White Raiu. On the other hand, it also sells other botanical extracts, such as kava, kanna, and blue lotus. Their prices align with their product’s quality and fantastic customer service.

You will be well advised here, and no one will rush you to buy, as is often the case in other physical stores. In addition, it offers free shipping to San Francisco residents.

Visit the store at 180 Steuart St or order through the website. Sadly, they don’t have a phone number available.

Looking for Kratom in Another City?

No problem! Check out these other spots in California:

• Anaheim
• Bakersfield
• Chula Vista
• Concord
• Fresno
• Indio
• Irvine
• Long Beach
• Los Angeles
• Mission Viejo
• Modesto
• Murrieta
• Riverside
• Sacramento
• San Jose
• Santa Ana
• Santa Clarita
• Stockton
• Oakland
• Oxnard
• Victorville

Why It’s Better to Order Kratom Online

Convenience is likely the first thing that comes to mind, but the reasons go deeper.

Here are three reasons online is better.

1. You Know What’s In (& Not In) Your Kratom

Buying online is simply the safest way to buy because you can quickly check if the product has the corresponding certificates of analysis (COAs). This is crucial, as it is the only way to confirm that you purchased a safe product. In addition, you can also look into the experiences of other users, checking if the product or brand is trustworthy.

2. You’ll Pay Less

Most online stores offer welcome discounts, free shipping, or giveaway samples, saving you lots of money. Online stores are cheaper even without these offers because they don’t have the overhead costs of physical stores.

Also see: What’s the Cheapest Kratom? Save Money on Strains & Bulk Orders.

3. Products Are Fresher & Not Wasting Away On Shelves

Buying online directly from the producer means the kratom is fresher; it’s not sitting on shelves, slowly losing potency.

4. Endless Options to Choose From

Online vendors usually carry an impressive variety of strains to choose from, partly because they aren’t limited by shelf space.

Kratom Vendors That Ship to San Francisco

There are many local stores to buy kratom from, but far more across the nation ship to San Francisco. Of course, not all of these are great, and you still have to be selective.

Chances are, if you look online, these names will come up first — there’s a good reason for that. Here’s a little information about the top online kratom vendors and what makes them stand out from the rest.

1. Kona Kratom

Kona Kratom is the number one vendor on our list. You can find almost any variety, from Red Maeng Da to Green Malay, because of their wide assortment of products. Of all kratom vendors, Kona Kratom is the most reliable in every way.

This brand offers the best prices without skimping on quality or safety, previously testing everything in third-party laboratories.

2. Star Kratom

Star Kratom is a young brand but easily has the fastest shipping times in the market. Its kratom is excellent, competing with more renowned sellers such as Kona Kratom.

If you are looking for excellent quality kratom and need it delivered fast, this brand is what you need.

3. VIP Kratom

Experienced users often prefer VIP Kratom. Although the prices are somewhat high compared to other brands, its products are very potent and worth the money. Its best-selling strains are Green Vietnam, Red Maeng Da, and White Horn, and all products meet the highest quality standards.

Finally, VIP Kratom products come with a 30-day guarantee, so you’ll get your money back if you are not satisfied with your purchase.

4. Green Leaf Kratom

Green Leaf Kratom started in 2015 as a one-person organization in New Jersey. This company now distributes from several US cities and has branches in Europe.

It has a wide variety of strains, about 40 or so, including Green Bali, Red Bentuangie, and White Maeng Da. The products are potent and have discreet packaging. It accepts payment with cryptocurrencies, and the customer service is outstanding.

5. Remarkable Herbs

Remarkable Herbs is perhaps the first brand to sell kratom in the USA, beginning operations in 2001. It carries a wide variety of kratom, in addition to selling Kava, Mimosa Hostilis, and two plants close to kratom: Mitragyna hirsutaandMitragyna javanica.

In addition, it publishes third-party lab results, so you’re guaranteed a clean product. Remarkable Herbs is a member of the AKA’s Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) program, so everything is done by the book.

Unfortunately, this brand does not sell directly to users, so you will have to look for its tropical packaging in dispensaries or smoke shops.

Which Kratom Strain Should I Use?

There are many kratom strains, and each one has different properties. A simple way to classify them is according to the color of the leaf vein.

Green Vein Kratom Powder

Green vein kratom powder has mixed properties, varying between the stimulation and relaxation typical of the other two vein colors. One could say it is the most balanced of the three.

The top-rated green-vein kratom strains are:

Green Malay Kratom

Green Malay offers a fantastic array of benefits, such as providing intense bursts of energy combined with a calm, relaxing effect in smaller doses. It also shines when it comes to pain relief, as its high concentration of alkaloids helps fight off sensations of bodily pain and discomfort.

Green Borneo Kratom

Renowned for its anxiety-busting effects, Green Borneo can help those suffering from depression. This particular strain also seems to be especially useful for anyone dealing with a low attention span or who finds it hard to concentrate.

Green Bali Kratom

Green Bali is considered a jack of all trades because of its varied benefits, providing a significant energy boost and melting away pain and discomfort for its users.

Green Thai Kratom

Chosen by many for its fantastic energizing effects, Green Thai is perfect for people who work long hours or need an extra boost for their studies. Expect mood enhancements and relaxing effects, especially useful for insomnia.

Green Sumatra Kratom

Green Sumatra is a balanced blend, offering an energy boost, anxiety relief, and mood enhancement. Even strains like this that are generally more stimulating can create a profound sense of relaxation and sedation at higher doses.

Red Vein Kratom Powder

Red varieties are on the relaxing and calming side of the spectrum. Red vein kratom powder has a higher content of 7-hydroxymitragynine, an alkaloid that interacts with mu-opioid receptors, causing opioid-like feelings of relaxation and sedation.

Users choose red strains for their analgesic properties to fight insomnia and anxiety. In addition, patients struggling with opioid addiction use it to manage withdrawal symptoms.

The top-rated red-vein kratom strains are:

Red Bali Kratom

Red Bali is one of the best strains for people interested in pain relief and can be very useful for people interested in relaxing after a long day.

Red Thai Kratom

Red Thai is a fantastic supplement for people interested in improving their anxiety and managing the pain but is also an excellent strain to use before bedtime.

Red Horn Kratom

Red Horn is a good analgesic and anxiolytic but is often more expensive than similar strains.

Red Sumatra Kratom

Red Sumatra is an excellent choice for anyone hoping to manage their pain or anxiety. It can reduce stress and help fight insomnia but can even be stimulating at lower doses.

Red Borneo Kratom

Red Borneo is commonly known as one of the best strains for reducing anxiety. It can provide a slight energy boost, but you shouldn’t choose this strain if you’re looking for energy.

White Vein Kratom Powder

Finally, white varieties are the most energizing and stimulating. White vein kratom powder has a higher content of mitragynine, an alkaloid that interacts with serotonin receptors, causing euphoric feelings. As a result, users choose white strains to reduce fatigue, increase concentration and improve mood.

The top-rated white-vein kratom strains are:

White Borneo Kratom

White Borneo is an excellent choice for anyone hoping to find stimulation and mood enhancement from their kratom. In addition, it’s fantastic for helping to improve focus, which makes it a valuable tool for students studying for exams.

White Thai Kratom

White Thai kratom is one of the most stimulating strains. Unfortunately, it can be so stimulating that it leaves you awake at night; if you’re a light sleeper, you may want to plan your doses accordingly.

White Bali Kratom

This variety has more energizing effects than other strains. White Bali can offer balance to anyone struggling with fatigue or lethargy to help them feel more enthusiastic, alert, and focused. If you are looking for something that provides potent effects and is also affordable, White Bali is the best choice.

White Sumatra Kratom

White Sumatra’s strong point is that it offers powerful stimulating effects that leave users energized, alert, and awake. However, larger doses of White Sumatra can provide users with restful sleep and can effectively fight off insomnia and feelings of restlessness.

White Indo Kratom

White Indo is favored for its significant nootropic effects. Users who take this particular strain tend to be more energized, focused on their tasks, and work or study for more extended periods. It resembles other white vein strains regarding the general effects on a user.

What Are the Benefits of Kratom?

People use kratom for many different reasons, but here are the most common.

Kratom for Pain

Many users try red strains of kratom to avoid prescription painkillers or to treat chronic pain that resists conventional treatments.

Red vein strains are high in 7-hydroxymitragynine, an alkaloid that interacts with the mu-opioid system, causing sensations similar to morphine and other analgesic drugs, making these strains an effective analgesic.

Kratom for Sleep

Insomnia is the evil of our time due to various causes: blue light from screens, poor diet, stress, and more. However, kratom can improve your sleep.

Once again, to combat insomnia, we recommend red vein kratom. These varieties are more soothing, and a higher dose results in a more relaxing effect.

Kratom for Energy

Kratom is an herb that has a broad spectrum of effects, but those indigenous to Southeast Asia, where the plant grows, use it for the energy boost it provides.

White strains are best due to their high mitragynine content, an alkaloid that interacts with serotonin receptors in the brain. Strikingly, the smaller the dose, the greater the chance of obtaining these effects.

A starting dose of 1 to 3 g could work for energy and improved concentration.

Kratom for Anxiety

Finally, kratom is an anxiolytic thanks to its amounts of 7-hydroxymitragynine, the relaxing alkaloid found in high quantities in red strains.

However, you can also find it in some green strains, such as Indo or Maeng Da, if you need to relieve anxiety without lethargy.

Conclusion: Where to Buy Kratom in San Francisco

Kratom is legal in San Francisco, and it doesn’t look like the Californian authorities will try to ban it in the future. Instead, it is more likely that San Diego and Oceanside will repeal their bans.

Since users do not report good experiences buying from San Francisco dispensaries, we advise you to buy your kratom online. This way, you are assured of buying quality products from reputable sellers.

Our list gives you plenty of solid choices like Kona Kratom and Star Kratom so that you can buy the best kratom around.