Kratom is a South Asian herb used to treat chronic pain, anxiety, and opiate withdrawal. Many people rely on kratom to improve their quality of life, but unfortunately, others seek to ban kratom based on its similarity to opiates.
Yes, kratom is legal in Missouri, although there are recent attempts at regulation.
This article serves as a guide for buying kratom in Missouri. It covers kratom’s legal status, its safety, the best way to buy it, and some general tips for choosing the right strain.
Is Kratom Legal In Missouri?
It is legal to buy and use kratom in most of Missouri, but several bills have been proposed in the state legislature to regulate kratom.
The most current attempt is HB 912 (the Kratom Consumer Protection Act), which was introduced in May 2023. It passed the House but was referred to the Legislative Oversight Committee. We’ll watch for any progression.
So far, none of the other statewide bills have passed, although St. Charles County’s council voted to regulate kratom. It’s still legal to buy kratom in St. Charles County if you are over 18.
St. Charles County’s regulation is a more strict set of labeling requirements, ostensibly making it more challenging to sell low-quality kratom or kratom cut with foreign substances.
Other states have passed a Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KPCA) that imposes similar restrictions and protections on the state level.
Related: Why Is Kratom So Controversial?
Where to Buy Kratom In Missouri
In general, you’ll have to decide whether you want to purchase your kratom online or in person. Buying kratom online is the best option for most people, although there are rare occasions when patronizing a local shop is the better choice.
The following two sections cover the advantages and disadvantages of buying kratom online and buying it from a nearby store.
1. Buying Kratom Online
Online kratom vendors usually offer higher-quality products at better prices than their brick-and-mortar counterparts. This is primarily because most online kratom retailers have a direct relationship with kratom growers, allowing them to purchase kratom in bulk and save money. Their savings become yours since they can set lower prices and still turn a profit.
While that already sounds enticing, there’s an even better reason to buy kratom online: safety.
Since online kratom shops sell products sourced directly from growers, they can take advantage of third-party testing. Independent laboratories test kratom products to measure their quality, potency, and purity and send the results back to the retailer. This process gives the retailer reliable information about the products they’re selling and gives you confidence knowing that you’re getting high-quality uncontaminated kratom.
VIP Kratom and Kona Kratom are two examples of online shops that extensively use third-party testing for the products they sell.
If that’s not enough, online shops often have a wider selection of products since they have exposure to a much wider audience than small local shops. Since online shops don’t need to consider factors like shelf space and demand, they can carry more specialized products.
At this point, you may be wondering why anyone buys kratom from a local store. Despite the advantages of buying online, speed is where internet-based businesses can’t compete with local stores. If you need to get your kratom as soon as possible, finding a store near where you live is the best option.
However, some online stores — notably Star Kratom — close the gap considerably by offering fast shipping and low processing times. Still, if speed is your primary concern, you’re better off finding a local shop near you.
2. Buying Kratom In-Store: Kratom Near Me
It’s worth reiterating that buying online is the preferred option, but sometimes purchasing kratom from a store is unavoidable. Finding a local store is your best bet when you need to replenish your kratom stock as quickly as possible.
Unfortunately, most local kratom retailers don’t provide third-party lab reports since they usually resell another company’s products and, therefore, can’t verify the source of their kratom. You’ll have to decide if sacrificing quality for alacrity is worth it.
If you decide to look for kratom shops near you, here is a list of some of the most popular Missouri kratom retailers to help get you started.
1. CBD Kratom
The straightforward naming of CBD Kratom tells you what they’re all about. CBD Kratom carries an impressive array of CBD and kratom products, and their staff is helpful and friendly. Their prices are a bit high, even for a local shop. You can find them in St. Louis.
2. KC SmokZ
This shop carries a broader variety of products than CBD Kratom. They have a narrower selection of kratom than CBD Kratom, but their prices are better. They’re located in Kansas City.
3. Vapor World
Vapor World is another all-purpose smoke shop that carries kratom alongside CBD, delta 8 THC, and glassware. Their selection is comparable to KC SmokZ, but prices vary. You should call ahead if you’re looking for a specific kind of kratom since their stock depletes quickly. They’re located in Jane.
4. Atlas Kratom
This Hollister shop specializes in kratom and herbal medicine, making them a great choice for less-common products. Unfortunately, you get what you pay for, and Atlas Kratom’s products aren’t cheap. They’re still worth a trip since the products you’ll find here are high quality, and the staff is extremely knowledgeable about kratom.
5. KC Fumes
This Kansas City smoke shop carries kratom but is more focused on tobacco products and CBD. They still have a respectable kratom selection, although their prices are somewhat high. It might be hard to find what you’re looking for if you want something niche.
Find Kratom Near You
Check out where to buy kratom in these cities:
What to Look for When Buying Kratom
Before you make any purchases, make sure you take some time to review these general buying guidelines.
1. Strain Selection
There are several different kratom strains, each with its own unique effects profile. Having a good experience with kratom depends on matching your desired effects with the right strain. Here is a quick rundown of the three main strains and their common uses.
White Vein
White-vein kratom is a stimulating strain popular among people looking for more energy, enhanced focus, and increased productivity. It’s also sometimes used to treat depression since it can substantially improve mood. White-vein kratom users describe its effects as similar to drinking a large cup of strong coffee.
Red Vein
Red-vein kratom is a sedative strain and the polar opposite of white-vein kratom. Red strains are relaxing and used to treat chronic pain, anxiety, and insomnia. Most red-vein users recommend taking it at night since it can cause considerable drowsiness.
Green Vein
Green-vein kratom sits somewhere between red and white-vein kratom and offers a middle ground to people who can’t decide which strain they prefer. Green-vein strains give users a less dramatic energy boost and offer more mild pain relief, making it a good choice for people who want a bit of both. You can control which effects are more prominent — stimulating or sedative — by altering your dose size.
2. AKA Certification
Buying kratom is a nerve-wracking process for some people, and understandably so. The kratom industry is plagued by nefarious companies looking to make a quick profit and don’t care about the quality or safety of their products.
Third-party testing offers one layer of defense against such bad actors, but, luckily, the American Kratom Association (AKA) provides another.
Kratom companies can become AKA-certified by having their products tested for quality and purity. If a business’ products meet AKA requirements, they receive AKA certification. In this way, the AKA is unaffiliated with individual companies and acts as a private regulatory agency. Companies with AKA certification have their products rechecked annually to ensure they meet AKA standards.
You should never purchase kratom from any retailer that doesn’t have AKA certification. Online retailers are more likely to have AKA certification since it’s usually easier to verify the origin of the kratom they sell. It’s uncommon to see a local shop with AKA certification since the provenance of their kratom is usually unknown.
3. Company Reputation
Finally, make sure you do your homework before pulling the trigger on a purchase by conducting an extensive background check on the company you’re considering. The best way to sniff out shady kratom retailers is to read reviews from as many independent sources as you can find.
Third-party testing and AKA certification protect you from buying mislabeled or low-quality products. A background check protects you from poor customer service and error-prone businesses.
Look for reviews that mention poor communication or shipping errors, as these usually indicate an unprofessional business that is difficult to work with. Be suspicious of any companies without any reviews since that could be a sign of negative review scrubbing.
If you’re unsure where to start looking for reviews, our in-depth vendor reviews are a good place to start.
What Are People Using Kratom for?
Kratom has many uses, mostly determined by the strain. Here are some of the most common reasons people use kratom.
1. Pain
Pain relief is probably the most common use for kratom. Red-vein kratom is a potent analgesic with a similar biological mechanism as opiates. Red-vein strains are adept at blocking pain signals before they reach your brain, providing relief by interrupting your body’s natural pain-processing channels.
Many red-vein strains also act as mild muscle relaxers, which can help them relieve pain related to tension or injuries.
Some green-vein kratom strains also provide pain relief but to a lesser degree than red-vein strains. White-vein kratom has little to no pain-relieving effects and is therefore not used to manage pain.
Related: Is Kratom An Opioid?
2. Anxiety & Depression
Another common use for kratom is to treat anxiety and depression. Most kratom strains are mild euphorics, and white-vein kratom is particularly good at improving a person’s mood. Some green and red strains can also help with depression, but white-vein is usually the best option.
White-vein kratom has the advantage of being a stimulant, making it feasible to take during the day. This is especially beneficial since it allows them to manage their anxiety while they go about their daily life.
Red-vein strains don’t offer the same flexibility since their sedative effects prevent them from being used in daily life.
3. Opiate Withdrawal
Since kratom shares pharmacological properties with opiates, it is an excellent treatment for opiate withdrawal. Withdrawal symptoms are incredibly painful, and the inability to manage those symptoms is the number one cause of relapses. Kratom offers an alternative to recovering opiate abusers and reduces the chances of relapses.
Related: Can You Overdose On Kratom?
4. Energy & Focus
White-vein kratom is a powerful stimulant with several cognitive benefits that make it an effective nootropic.
Many white-vein kratom users report a significant energy boost and use it as a coffee replacement in the morning. They also claim that white-vein kratom helps them focus and improves their memory.
While research is limited, some studies support using kratom as a productivity aid.
Related: Making Sense of Kratom Research
Is Kratom Safe?
Using kratom safely is all about following a few important guidelines. Kratom use is not risk-free, so you must monitor your body’s reaction to taking kratom and be aware of possible side effects.
The number one risk of kratom use is addiction. Kratom has a similar interaction pathway in the human body to opioids and, therefore, shares their potential for addiction.
Avoiding kratom addiction is about managing your weekly use and taking breaks.
Experts recommend limiting your kratom use to four or five days a week and taking at least one week off every one to two months. It’s also a good idea to cycle your strains since different strains have different effects on the body.
Besides monitoring your weekly and monthly use, you also need to choose your dose size carefully. Most experts recommend taking between 2 g and 12 g, with lower doses emphasizing the stimulating effects and higher doses providing more sedative effects.
Higher doses — loosely defined as more than 10 g — come with an increased risk of experiencing side effects.
Related: Myths & Misinformation Surrounding Kratom
Side Effects of Kratom
Most kratom users won’t experience side effects if they use it responsibly. Listening to your body and adjusting your dose size is the best way to have good kratom experiences.
Nonetheless, some people will experience kratom’s side effects, so you should be aware of the more common ones to know what to look out for.
Gastrointestinal Distress
Some people experience stomach issues like pain and nausea from taking kratom. This is overwhelmingly more common in people who take more than 10g, so keeping your dose size small is the best way to avoid stomach problems altogether.
Kratom Wobbles
A common side effect of kratom use is “the wobbles.” Kratom is a psychoactive herb and can make some people feel dizzy and unsteady. This is again most common when taking larger amounts and is more common with red and green-vein kratom.
Anxiety
Surprisingly, kratom can make anxiety worse, even though it can help treat anxiety. Using kratom to treat anxiety requires keen attention to your body and a willingness to experiment and adjust your dose until you find the sweet spot.
White-vein kratom strains are the most likely to cause anxiety to worsen, so be especially careful if you are prone to it.
Foggy Head
Some people experience unpleasant mental fogginess from taking kratom, especially red-vein kratom. Like most side effects, the chance of losing mental clarity increases with dose size.
Keeping your dose small and sticking with green-vein and white-vein strains are the best ways to avoid this.
Tiredness
Long-term kratom use can lead to systemic fatigue. If you feel unusually lethargic, it could be a sign that your body needs a break. It’s important to take regular intervals in general, even more so if you experience extreme tiredness.
Other Side Effects/Considerations
These are not the only side effects you may experience with kratom use, but they are the most common. Other possible side effects include liver and kidney damage, constipation, and hallucinations.
Pregnant women should never use kratom as it may put both the mother and unborn child at risk.
People who take prescription medication, use recreational drugs, or drink alcohol should not take kratom as it can have serious interactions with other substances.
What’s the Future of Kratom In Missouri
As kratom becomes more popular, it becomes more likely that kratom will become regulated at the federal level. Some states have already banned kratom use, and others have imposed limitations on buying and using kratom locally, setting a precedent for regulating kratom.
Missouri has yet to pass state-level legislation regulating kratom but has a bill pending. St. Charles County has paved the way for further kratom legislation in the state by passing a local bill limiting kratom use to those over 18 years and requiring specific labels.
If you use kratom and live in Missouri, make sure to stay up to date on local kratom laws to avoid running into legal trouble.
