Where to Buy Kratom in Manhattan

Kratom is an herbal extract coming from the leaves of an evergreen tree (Mitragyna speciosa), native to Southeast Asia. Traditionally used as medicine, whether chewed or made into tea, it’s gaining popularity in the US.

Acquiring this herb is perfectly legal in Manhattan, and by the end of this article, you’ll know its present legal status in New York and where to find the best vendors near you.

Is Kratom Legal in Manhattan?

Yes, kratom is legal in Manhattan and throughout New York.

Today, kratom remains unregulated in New York, and only a few counties have managed to apply age restrictions. The substance is legal in most of the US and many other countries.

Following kratom’s rise in popularity in 2016, legislators proposed bills NY A08787 and NY S06924 to ban sales to people under 18 years old, but both attempts failed.

In 2019, while bills NY S05531 and NY A08249 tried to ban sales to people under 21, bill NY S00168 attempted to set the limit at 18. The attempts failed, as did bill NY S06104, intended as a user protection act.

In February 2022, bill NY A00294 entered the Health Committee. If it passes, it will ban sales to people under 21.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reviewed kratom and found little evidence that it’s dangerous. They stated kratom is a non-threatening substance, but they will continue to keep tabs on it.

This conclusion was a massive blow to the FDA’s intention to make kratom a controlled substance. A negative report would have been enough for the FDA to press for a ban. Up til now, all their efforts have been in vain.

Top 5 Kratom Shops in Manhattan

Not every place is worth your time or money, but these five shops are local favorites. Check them out the next time you’re out looking for kratom.

Jubilee Smoke & Vape Shop

Having been in the business for almost 15 years, this premium shop specializes in quality e-cigarettes and vape products. Customers recommend this shop for its excellent customer service and wide selection of products, including kratom.

You can visit their beautiful shop at 1211 Lexington Ave, but you may also give them a call at (917) 261-2629. Furthermore, you can visit their website and contact them by filling out a simple form.

East Side Cigars & Smoke Shop

All customers agree: this place is one of the best. You won’t be disappointed with its selection of products and accessories. Established in 2016, it offers various kratom strains, which many consider exceptional.

Their shop is at 279 E Houston St, and you can contact them at (212) 228-2882. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find a website or social media account.

Midtown Smoke & Vape Shop

Despite its humility, this shop has gained a small but loyal following. Customers praise the owners’ dedication to good service and excellent prices, always going a long way to satisfy their needs.

You can find their shop at 454 9th Ave, though we suggest contacting them first. Their number is (646) 688-5779, but they also have a website and Facebook page. Unfortunately, these haven’t seen updates in a while, so we recommend you give them a call instead.

The SmoKing Shop

Located in Greenwich Village, this is one of the top smoke shops in New York City. We found many kratom strains among its quality offerings, including Red Bali. Something noteworthy: all their products come from within the US or Europe.

You can find them at 45 Christopher St, and you can also contact them by phone at (212) 929-1151 or through their website. You can follow them on Instagram to see their latest products.

NYC Smokes & More

Though small in size, this shop packs a punch. Highly specialized, it offers a wide variety of vaporizers and accessories, and besides kratom, the owners provide excellent attention and knowledge. You can’t go wrong with this one.

This little shop opens at 104 McDougal St, and the only means of contact is by phone, which is (646) 370-4699. Don’t hesitate to give them a call if you have any questions.

Looking for Kratom in Another City?

Check out these spots in New York:

• Albany
• Bronx
• Brookhaven
• Brooklyn
• Buffalo
• Hempstead
• Islip
• Poughkeepsie
• Rochester
• Staten Island
• Syracuse
• Queens

Why It’s Better to Order Kratom Online

As New York still hasn’t dealt with the issue of unregulated kratom, finding quality and affordable kratom in a physical store can be difficult — there’s no way to prove the kratom you buy is legit. All of this can be easily avoided by purchasing online.

When you buy online, you can read reviews and check each product’s third-party tests to know you’re buying the best kratom.

Another benefit of ordering kratom online is that it’s cheaper due to the lower overhead costs, even considering shipping. Besides, quality also increases because fewer intermediaries are involved.

Finally, purchasing online allows you to choose from a wider variety of strains, easily surpassing the top physical shops. Nowadays, you can just buy your favorite kratom from the other side of the country. Coming next, we’ll meet some vendors that do this every day.

Kratom Vendors That Ship to Manhattan

We know that finding reliable vendors can be difficult and time-consuming. It would take a long time to pick just one, and then you would hope you made a good choice. We wanted to ease your mind, so we have made a list of the best online vendors, some certified by the American Kratom Association (AKA).

Kona Kratom

Kona Kratom gets our top recommendation. They offer quality strains directly from Southeast Asia and the best customer service, so you can’t go wrong with this one. Their products may not be the cheapest, but you can be sure your purchase will be safe.

Unlike other vendors, Kona Kratom distinguishes its latest batches with a green tag labeled “fresh batch.” In addition, they test all their products in a lab, so you can trust the quality to be consistent. Also, if your purchase exceeds $29.99, you get free shipping.

Kona Kratom’s top picks:

• Green Malay
• Red Maeng Da
• Red Dragon

Star Kratom

Star Kratom is relatively new, but don’t let that turn you away. In a short time, they have positioned themselves as one of the most reliable kratom vendors. Their same-day and next-day shipping options are unmatched.

Keeping high standards for all their products, they focus on customer satisfaction and good communication. Besides affordable prices and fast shipping, they let you buy in bulk, saving you money and time in the long run. They have just one downside: their selection is small.

Star Kratom’s top picks:

• Red Bali
• Green Maeng Da
• Green Malay

VIP Kratom

VIP Kratom is the go-to if your top priority is getting quality kratom. Maintaining the strictest product standards, they have returned whole batches for not meeting their requirements. This premium kratom is costly, so don’t let its high prices surprise you.

In addition to having the best kratom, they offer bulk purchases and fast shipping. Their selection is smaller than most vendors, but they compensate for that by giving you a refund if your needs aren’t satisfied. Plus, you can choose between powder or capsules.

VIP Kratom’s top picks:

• Red Sumatra
• White Maeng Da
• Green Hulu

Kat’s Botanicals

Kat’s Botanicals offers all-natural products and works hard to ensure their practices are traditional and transparent. They are a great choice if you’re looking for premium kratom and care for the environment.

They proudly offer a selection of 21 strains, a great variety compared to other vendors. Their website may be a bit difficult to navigate, but their thousands of positive reviews will convince you. Something to note: they accept cryptocurrencies.

Kat’s Botanicals’ top picks:

• Green Maeng Da
• Digital Buddha
• White Maeng Da

Gaia Kratom

In recent years, Gaia Kratom, also known as Mitragaia, has attracted a following. Their selection of strains is immense, surpassing a hundred and leaving most vendors behind. In addition, they distinguish themselves by also offering kratom in neat small tablets.

Boasting a strong media presence surpassing 20,000 followers, they keep their prices competitive while maintaining excellent quality. Unfortunately, their only downside is their products can take a while to deliver. If that doesn’t bother you, feel free to give them a try.

Gaia Kratom’s top picks:

• Green Batak
• Red Brunei
• White JongKong

Remarkable Herbs

Remarkable Herbs is one of the most prominent kratom vendors there is. Since its creation, it has served over 15,000 retailers across the country. They have always offered superior products and have third-party tests to prove theirs are healthy and of high quality.

Sadly they don’t sell directly to customers, so you’ll have to resort to third-party retailers. That said, you’ll never find their products out of stock.

Remarkable Herbs’ top picks:

• Green Thai
• Green Malay
• Red Bali

Golden Monk

Golden Monk is unique in that it offers discounts for first-time customers. They all agree their support service is excellent, and say the same about their prices. Their website has loads of reviews that prove this.

Benefits include free shipping on orders over $44.99 and free samples when your order exceeds a kilogram or 1000 capsules. Furthermore, you get a month-long refund guarantee. And the free samples are your choice.

Golden Monk’s top picks:

• Red Bali
• Green Maeng Da
• Green Malay

Chief Kratom

Chief Kratom is puzzling: we don’t know its location or where it sources its products. Despite that, they have a certificate from the AKA, which means their standards are solid.

They managed to balance purity and affordability, so all their products have no artificial additives while their prices stay low. We note that, unlike most vendors, they only sell one extract.

Which Kratom Strain Should I Use

As you may already know, the market is full of kratom strains. They all have different effects, so choosing the one you need might initially seem daunting. Strains differ on the color of the leaf, and in this section, you’ll get to know the three most prevalent ones.

Green Vein Kratom Powder

Green strains are the better-rounded kind, so they are perfect for beginners. Green vein kratom powder is considered a jack-of-all-trades for its stimulating and relaxing effects.

The top-rated green-vein kratom strains are:

Green Malay

Green Malay is useful for managing stress and reducing anxiety. It’s not as strong as the red strains but works similar to alcohol in that it creates a carefree attitude while increasing energy.

Green Borneo

Green Borneo may be the most popular kratom strain of all. It provides a balanced amount of stimulating and relaxing effects. It’s handy to manage pain and lessen depression and anxiety.

Green Bali

Green Bali leans towards the stimulating side of the spectrum, closer to the red strains. This reason makes it an excellent alternative to coffee. Be careful of cheap options as they may not be as strong as they should be.

Green Thai

Green Thai produces a peaceful attitude some describe as a feeling of floating. Because of its moderate effects, it’s unlikely to produce anxiety or muscular tension.

Green Sumatra

Green Sumatra can be unpredictable. Depending on the vendor, it can veer between stimulating and relaxing. Its distinctive peculiarity is the long duration of its effects.

Red Vein Kratom Powder

Red strains act fast and are powerful, so you should be careful with the dose. Red vein kratom powder helps induce sleep and manage pain, making it a hit among enthusiasts.

The top-rated red-vein kratom strains are:

Red Bali

Red Bali is slightly livelier than other red strains. It has fewer sedative effects, so this is a handy strain to manage pain during the day.

Red Thai

Red Thai provides a sense of calmness and relaxation. However, it has the opposite effect and may become too intense in higher doses.

Red Horn

Red Horn has unpredictable effects depending on the harvest. We recommend it for experienced enthusiasts due to the confusing marketing.

Red Sumatra

Red Sumatra is a powerful sedative. It can be helpful if you’re having trouble falling asleep, as long as you use high doses. In moderate amounts, its effects are similar to the Red Thai.

Red Borneo

Red Borneo is a great pain reliever all-around, though with inconsistencies between batches and vendors. Despite these differences, you can still rely on its powerful painkiller effects.

White Vein Kratom Powder

White strains, unlike the red ones, provide stimulating and euphoric effects. Many people have replaced coffee with white vein kratom powder because of its similar properties.

The top-rated white-vein kratom strains are:

White Borneo

White Borneo is balanced and well-rounded. It’s not a potent stimulant or a strong painkiller, but it’s for these reasons that it remains popular for daily use.

White Thai

White Thai provides both stimulating and relaxing effects. People attest to feeling energized yet relaxed, making it perfect for socializing.

White Bali

White Bali has milder stimulating properties. It also has painkiller effects, a benefit not found in other white strains. Furthermore, most people report no notable side effects, even in high doses.

White Sumatra

White Sumatra is one of the most stimulating kratom strains available. It doesn’t induce anxiety or muscular tension, making it an excellent replacement for coffee.

White Indo

White Indo provides an excellent balance of the effects produced by white strains. It’s stimulating, mood-enhancing, and euphoria-inducing. Because of its origin, though, there may be subtle differences between batches.

What’s the Dose of Kratom?

The question of kratom dosage is difficult to answer, but in general, it follows these rules:

• Microdose: Below 2 grams
• Low dose: Between 2 and 6 grams
• High dose: Between 6 and 8 grams
• Very high dose: Between 8 and 12 grams, but try to avoid this level

No person is alike, and therefore they need different doses. These chiefly depend on your size and weight, the effects you’re looking for, and the strain you use.

You can follow these rules depending on your intention:

• Target around 0.025 grams per pound of body weight if you want stimulation
• Target around 0.04 grams per pound if you want sedation or need a painkiller

If this is your first time using kratom, remember to start low. You can increase each consecutive dose later. Remember to take a break from using kratom and watch for signs of addiction.

What Is the American Kratom Association?

In 2014, kratom enthusiasts founded the American Kratom Association (AKA) to protect their right to use the substance in the US. Funded by donations, it has defended the herb against many bans and misinformation.

The AKA has five main goals:

1. To support all people who rely on kratom
2. To educate all Americans on the many benefits of kratom usage
3. To amplify the voice of all kratom enthusiasts worldwide
4. To promote global awareness by providing accurate information for future enthusiasts
5. To conserve natural resources, encouraging sustainable practices and environmental awareness

Although originally founded to counter a smear campaign by the FDA, the AKA expanded its mission to ensure the safety and quality of kratom products.

One of such initiatives is the Good Manufacturing Practice Standards Program (GMP), which tries to establish good practices for kratom production. Any vendor can apply to the program, and after a successful review, they receive an AKA certification.

How to Store Kratom

If you want to store kratom, there are many things you should keep in mind. You can make your kratom remain fresh for up to a year, exceeding the usual three months.

Here are some recommendations:

• Make sure your kratom stays dry, away from any source of moisture.
• Store it in an airtight container; don’t let it interact with air needlessly.
• Keep your kratom somewhere cool, like your refrigerator.
• Keep your kratom away from sunlight; the sun’s UV rays damage it.
• Don’t store it close to strong scents; your kratom may absorb the smell.
• If you use your kratom regularly, keep it in plastic bags. Vacuum seal bags are the best for long-term storage because they prevent oxidation.
• If you use kratom tea, make a pot and cool it down. Then move the liquid to an ice cube tray or a plastic container, and put it in the freezer. Avoid glass containers.
• There’s no reliable data on whether it’s good to store powder kratom in the freezer. If you want to experiment, remember to keep an eye on it.

Our final recommendation is this: always resort to trusted vendors. Avoid a headache and only buy from companies you can trust.

Conclusion: Where to Buy Kratom in Manhattan

As it stands, it’s perfectly legal to purchase kratom in Manhattan. While there have been numerous attempts to limit or ban its usage, none have succeeded. Still, things could change, so try to stay informed just in case.

There are numerous physical stores throughout Manhattan where you will find the most common strains, but the variety of brands and products is nowhere near as good as the best online vendors.

If you don’t mind using your computer or phone, relying on online vendors could be another option. You’ll be sure the kratom you buy is of excellent quality, properly certified, and perfectly suited to your needs. Kona Kratom, Star Kratom, and VIP Kratom are well worth it, and they won’t let you down.