Is Kratom Legal In El Paso?

Written by Johan Hansen
Last Updated 1 year ago

Johan Hansen

Ex-Kratom Shop Owner

Kratom is an evergreen tree (Mitragyna speciosa) that grows in humid tropical rainforests in Southeast Asia. People around the world have been using it for its analgesic, stimulant, and sedative effects, but it also makes a great nootropic.

You can get good quality kratom, but you have to know which are the best suppliers near you. This article teaches you how to acquire the best kratom in El Paso, Texas. We’ll also cover kratom’s general legal status and its most common strains.

Is Kratom Legal in El Paso?

Yes, kratom is legal in El Paso and throughout Texas.

In 2016, the DEA decided to classify kratom as a controlled substance, so its distribution and sale were prohibited. The decision harmed public opinion, leading to a petition to reverse the DEA’s decision. As a result, the DEA decided to remove kratom from the list.

Contrary to what happened in other states, this incident didn’t further impact the state’s position on kratom. Still, in January 2021, the Texas House of Representatives introduced SB 821 to ensure safety standards in its production and sale. The bill was filed in May of that same year.

After a thorough review, the World Health Organization stated kratom isn’t a threat. This does not impact its legality in the US. However, it establishes a precedent for future discussions on its ban.

Remember that kratom being legal in Texas does not mean it is so in other states: currently, six states list it as a controlled substance.

Top 5 Kratom Shops in El Paso

Not all smoke shops in El Paso sell kratom, and not every place is worth buying from, so we did some research for you. In this section, you will find our list includes everything you need to know, so you can make an educated decision on where to buy it.

Zaragoza Smoke Shop

Zaragoza Smoke Shop is part of East Side Smoke Shops, a chain of 14 shops that sell house brand kratom and CBD products. Clients highlight their customer service, usually referring to the store’s managers or owners.

You’ll find the shop at 835 N Zaragoza Rd, Suite F. Alternatively, give them a call at (915) 313-5512. You may find some of their stock on their website, but we suggest contacting them directly through a phone call.

El Paso Smoke Shops

El Paso Smoke Shops’ offerings are noteworthy, albeit pricey, for kratom. Customers report their service to be excellent based on return policies and sales attendants to be knowledgeable without being overbearing.

They have five branches: Fox Plaza, Mesa, Montana, Westwind, and Doniphan. You’ll find their respective locations on their website, along with each store’s phone numbers and stock.

Herb N’ Legend Smoke Shop

Herb N’ Legend is a tobacco shop with three branches: East Side, Lower Valley, and Las Cruces. Besides CBD and tobacco products, they sell kratom and other herbs, like kanna and kava, and exotic sodas and snacks from worldwide locations.

Reviewers praise their selection, its friendly and helpful staff, and the quality of the goods sold, saying they’re above par with other smoke shops in the neighborhood. However, there are a handful of complaints about their return policies.

You can visit their website to check their store locations and contact information.

Monkey Vapes

Monkey Vapes in Cielo Vista Mall specializes in tobacco products like high-end hookahs, vaporizers, grinders, CBD products, and kratom. Their brand selection is extensive, as noted by a reviewer.

Customers also praise sales attendants for being friendly and knowledgeable.

They have an active Facebook page, so you might want to check it for news, offerings, or just to ask any question. You may visit them personally at 8401 Gateway Blvd W. Alternatively, call them at (915) 881-8960.

Hot Box Smoke Shop

Judging from their active Facebook page, you can get whatever you want besides kratom: detox supplements, all-in-one test kits, 3-foot-long glass pipes, and high-tech vapes.

Reviews were fantastic: they pointed at excellent customer service, helpful sales attendants, and a wide variety of products. Unfortunately, that is not the case lately, as reviewers mention unprofessional sales attendants and high prices.

So it might fit those that are not picky about customer service — the kind of customer that knows beforehand what they want, pays, and then leaves.

They don’t have a website, so the only option is to check their Facebook page. You’ll find the shop at 3343 Saul Kleinfeld Dr., A1. Contact them through a phone call at (915) 346-4353 if you have any doubts.

Looking for Kratom in Another Texan City?

No problem! Find out more spots to buy kratom in Texas:

Why It’s Better to Order Kratom Online

Online shopping has many advantages over in-store shopping, but the best reason might be the care and safety only online vendors provide. Not to mention being able to purchase kratom with a few clicks of your mouse and have it delivered directly to your doorstep.

Why you should order online:

  • Reviews: access to reviews ranging from the store’s customer service to product quality.
  • Variety: reputed online vendors are big players, so they stock more variety than your usual retailer.
  • Quality: many online vendors participate in the AKA’s GMP program, blend batches for alkaloid consistency, or have demanding supply policies.
  • Deals: big players buy in bulk, which means savings are transferred to consumers’ prices. Add to this special deals for overstocks.
  • Safety: countless reviews online and the fact that many vendors adhere to the AKA’s standards make your purchase safer.

Kratom Vendors Shipping to El Paso

There are hundreds of online kratom vendors, so finding the perfect one might be daunting. You might discover one that seems reliable at first but find out it’s not after you get your order. This is a waste of time and money, plus a strong feeling of frustration.

We don’t want shopping for kratom to be a challenging task. That’s why we will guide you through your search. Following, you will find a list of well-known, proven kratom vendors you can consider when deciding to buy online.

1. Kona Kratom

Aka GMP Certified yes
Pricing $45.00 — $115.00
Verified Vendor

Kona Kratom

4.95 / 5
Ranked 1 out of 190 vendors

Kona Kratom is known among industry experts and their customers as one of the best quality kratom vendors.

This is because they have substantial experience in the field, which they have capitalized in best practice programs. Among many benefits that caught our attention was that they make blends out of different lots to guarantee alkaloid consistency.

Customers report that their customer service is excellent, and the variety of kratom they offer is remarkable. In addition, they offer a 30-day money-back guarantee and free shipping.

Kona Kratom’s best-selling strains:

  • Green Maeng Da
  • Red Maeng Da
  • Green Maeng Da
  • Red Dragon
  • White Bali

2. Star Kratom

Aka GMP Certified yes
Pricing $35 — $95
Verified Vendor

Star Kratom

4.9 / 5
Ranked 2 out of 190 vendors

Star Kratom is a newcomer that became a leading brand in the industry because of the quality of its products. Their management and quality control are crucial to their success: for example, their supplies are tested twice.

The company sells kratom in powder and capsules in bulk to reduce costs: they have packs of 350 or 700 capsules. In the case of kratom powder, they stock bags with 250 grams, 500 grams, or 1 kilo.

You get a thirty-day money-back guarantee and a ninety-day exchange policy when you buy from Star Kratom.

Star Kratom’s best-selling strains:

  • Red Maeng Da
  • Red Bali
  • Green Maeng Da

3. VIP Kratom

Aka GMP Certified yes
Pricing $40.00 — $125.00
Verified Vendor

VIP Kratom

4.85 / 5
Ranked 4 out of 190 vendors

VIP Kratom‘s mission is to offer high-quality kratom to local and non-US consumers. Its commitment is not limited to the products it sells, as it also aims to make its customer service the best in the market. They make great efforts to incorporate the latest scientific developments into their business.

The company guarantees the quality of its products through periodic testing of supplies and products ready to be sold.

They offer a 30-day refund guarantee policy and a 90-day return system.

VIP Kratom’s best-selling strains:

  • Green Maeng Da
  • Green Bali
  • Green Hulu
  • Green Vietnam
  • Green Thai

4. Chief Kratom

Aka GMP Certified no
Pricing $11.99 — $

Chief Kratom

4.0 / 5
Ranked 48 out of 190 vendors

Chief Kratom is the right option for those that want to keep things simple: they only stock one product, 12 ml bottles of liquid kratom extract. If you visit their website, you’ll see their bottles have various labels, but these are only for aesthetic reasons.

Their website may look sketchy, as it does not provide much information on the company. However, this vendor participates in the AKA’s GMP, so they follow their protocols and adhere to the AKA’s quality standards.

So, if you choose to buy their products, you can do so knowing that the quality of their products is outstanding. However, be aware that they sell kratom extract, which is not a good option for those new to kratom.

5. Remarkable Herbs

Aka GMP Certified yes
Pricing $6.49 — $85.99
Verified Vendor

Remarkable Herbs Kratom

4 / 5
Ranked 44 out of 190 vendors

Remarkable Herbs is more of an herbalist specializing in kratom than an exclusive kratom vendor. They call themselves a company specialized in ethnobotanicals: they also stock Mitragyna hirsuta, Mitragyna javanica, kava, cat’s claw, and Mimosa hostilis.

Unfortunately, they are distributors, so they don’t sell to individuals. However, those interested in buying their products can do so through 15,000 retailers across the country carrying their offerings.

More details on the quality of the company’s products might be redundant, but keep in mind that they participate in the AKA’s GMP program.

Remarkable Herbs’ best-selling strains:

  • Green Vein Malaysian
  • Green Thai kratom
  • White Maeng Da
  • Red Bali

6. Gaia Kratom

Aka GMP Certified no
Pricing $1.20 — $1200.00
Verified Vendor

Gaia (Mitragaia) Kratom

3 / 5
Ranked 102 out of 190 vendors

Gaia Kratom, also known as Mitragaia, stocks very interesting products. They were the first to carry kratom tablets, so it is not surprising that they are at the forefront of new products.

They sell kratom of different strains in powder, capsules, and tablets, plus blends made to achieve consistent alkaloid content. You might be interested in their unique proprietary formula extracts.

Gaia Kratom’s commitment to customer service is noteworthy for its originality, and you can pay with cryptocurrency, for which you will get a 20% rebate.

As if it wasn’t enough, they are members of the AKA’s GMP and uphold their quality standards to the letter, guaranteeing a product of superb quality.

Gaia Kratom’s best-selling strains:

  • Green Batak
  • Red Brunei
  • White Jong Kong

7. Happy Hippo Herbals

Aka GMP Certified yes
Pricing $7.00 — $35.00
Verified Vendor

Happy Hippo

4.5 / 5
Ranked 9 out of 190 vendors

Happy Hippo Herbals may be your vendor if you have trouble choosing the correct strain to best suit your needs. Products’ names vary according to the speed of the effects, strain, or presentation.

Happy Hippo participates in the AKA’s GPM program, so you can be sure their kratom is excellent. Besides deals and promotions, they have a referral and a rewards program.

Happy Hippo Herbals’ best-selling strains:

  • Green Maeng Da
  • Yellow Sunda
  • Green Hulu
  • Red Malay

8. Kats Botanicals

Aka GMP Certified yes
Pricing $$6.99 — $$99.99

Kats Botanicals

4.5 / 5
Ranked 10 out of 190 vendors

Kats Botanicals was founded in 2016, and its owners are committed to providing botanicals that improve their customer’s quality of life. Thus, beyond kratom offerings, you will find they sell other holistic botanicals, like ashwagandha, elderberry, and valerian root.

The company has to ensure its product’s quality to accomplish its mission. That is why they comply with very demanding quality control procedures, like those of AKA’s GMP and their own.

Product and customer reviews are up to these goals, so you are sure they will not let you down if you decide to buy from them.

Kats Botanicals’ best-selling strains:

  • Green Maeng Da
  • Digital Buddha Kratom: the company’s exclusive blend of 50% white vein, 30% green vein, and 20% red vein
  • White Maeng Da

Which Kratom Strain Should I Use?

You will be surprised to know there are many different kratom strains from various regions.

Varieties, or “strains,” are one of the reasons behind the effects; some of these have stimulating properties, others have sedative effects, and some generate results in between. These properties are due to different amounts and types of alkaloids in the tree’s leaves.

Experts decided to classify strains in green, red, and white to ease things out, each having its characteristics. We will explain these in the following section.

Green Vein Kratom Powder

Kratom’s green strain is called so because of the leaf’s green veins. It is known for providing balanced stimulation and sedation. It is also the most common variety of kratom, meaning a more accessible price, plus big chances of variability in its effects.

The following are the most common green⁠ vein kratom strains:

Green Malay

Green Malay’s alkaloid content is high, producing more substantial stimulating effects —users mention energy, better focus, and pain relief.

Green Borneo

Green Borneo’s users report sedative and stimulant effects. They describe it as best for dealing with weariness and anxiety.

Green Bali

Green Bali’s alkaloid content is significant, and as a result, users mention they can feel its effects for five hours, and it can help with stressful situations.

Green Thai

Green Thai is known for not being as strong as other strains, so its side effects are milder or non-existent, depending on the user’s sensibility to alkaloids. Users choose it for energy and focus.

Green Sumatra

The effects of Green Sumatra are consistent in improving energy and focus. Still, kratom enthusiasts mainly take it for its painkilling properties.

Red Vein Kratom Powder

As it happens with Green Vein kratom, red vein kratom powder is also called that way because of the color of the tree’s leaves. Experts mention that this is a sign of high alkaloid content. Consequently, sedative and painkilling effects are more potent than other strains.

These are the most common red⁠ vein kratom strains:

Red Bali

Red Bali is very easy to find and quite possibly the most popular. It is very effective for treating pain and promoting sleep.

Red Thai

Red Thai is another popular variety of kratom, mainly because Red Thai crops are quite prevalent. It is renowned for its anxiolytic properties.

Red Horn

Red Horn is called so because of the shape of the leaves; it has little stings that look like horns. It is mainly used for its painkilling effects.

Red Sumatra

Red Sumatra is popular for its strong painkilling and anxiolytic properties.

Red Borneo

Red Borneo’s higher concentration of alkaloids is why experts prefer it, and many use it for dealing with nervousness.

White Vein Kratom Powder

White vein kratom powder has a higher concentration of mitragynine, kratom’s most crucial active agent. It has stimulating properties and works to improve cognitive abilities and focus.

The most common white⁠ vein kratom strains are:

White Borneo

Kratom experts report White Borneo boosts energy and improves mood. It’s a good option for students and those dealing with work demands because of its nootropic effects.

White Thai

White Thai, according to experts, is one of the most stimulating strains, so it would be the right choice for dealing with lethargy.

White Bali

White Bali has anxiolytic effects that, at the same time, reduce lethargy and weariness caused by depressive states.

White Sumatra

White Sumatra has potent stimulant and sedative effects at lower-than-usual doses.

White Indo

White Indo is used for its painkilling and mood-enhancing properties. Experts prefer it for its nootropic properties.

What Are the Benefits of Kratom?

Kratom’s popularity lies in consumers’ reports that it has energizing, analgesic, anxiolytic and sleep-inducing properties. As mentioned previously, effects depend on the strain, so we’ll cover kratom’s main uses in this section.

Kratom for Pain

One of kratom’s active agents — 7-hydroxymitragynine — stimulates opioid receptors, which inhibit pain signals. On the other hand, they also inhibit an enzyme that triggers signals arising from inflammatory processes. As a consequence, muscle fibers relax.

Experts suggest taking Maeng Da, Red Bali, and Red Borneo for pain relief.

Kratom for Sleep

Kratom works as a sleep aid because of its relaxing effects. Besides, the anxiolytic properties of kratom are not like those of benzodiazepines, as it does not cause the dulling sensation experienced after waking up when they are taken as a sleep aid.

In this regard, experts recommend using the red varieties; Red Indo and Red Kali are many people’s top choices, although the latter is difficult to find.

Kratom for Energy

The active agents of kratom act on the noradrenergic system, which is the reason for its stimulating properties. It also affects the reuptake of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that plays a vital role in attention capacity, memory, motivation, reward mechanisms, and body movement.

Green and white strains are used as energizers, with Green Maeng Da often cited as the best.

Kratom for Anxiety

Kratom’s anxiolytic effect is due to its action on opioid receptors and serotonin reuptake. 

Users note that its pain-relieving and energizing effects let them deal with social anxiety. Since it does not produce lethargy, those who take it can continue their daily activities.

Experts recommend using the Green Malay or the Red Thai variety to reduce anxiety.

Related: Is Kratom An Opioid?

What Are the Side Effects of Kratom?

Taking kratom can have several side effects, including anxiety, depression, headaches, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, and high blood pressure.

They show for various reasons — sensitivity, frequency of dosing, and the amount taken — and are common in cases of misuse.

Those new to kratom should take lower doses than usual and increase them little by little until they notice the effects or titrate the dosage. Be aware that you shouldn’t take kratom daily nor consume beyond the amount that works for you.

Chronic use and excessive intake are the best ways to develop tolerance to kratom. This leads to an increased risk of side effects and addiction — things you want to avoid.

How to Take Kratom

There are different ways to take kratom; some are better than others at helping you deal with kratom’s taste, described as sharp and bitter.

Prepare a Tea

It is possible to prepare kratom tea for a better taste since you can sweeten it with honey or sugar. Many also mention that the brew is absorbed better and can reduce side effects. Add a little lemon to make it taste even better and make the kratom more potent.

Toss N Wash

Another possibility is to use the toss-n-wash way. Users choosing this consumption method put a certain amount of kratom powder in their mouth and then swallow it with water or any liquid.

This does not prevent users from dealing with kratom’s taste, however.

Parachute

Parachuting, also called “bombing,” is a fast way to feel the herb’s effects while avoiding kratom’s bitter taste.

When parachuting, you wrap the powder in a thin piece of paper, usually toilet paper or edible paper called “oblate discs.” After that, you swallow it.

Conclusion: Where to Buy Kratom in El Paso

Fortunately, you can buy, possess, and consume kratom in El Paso and Texas without breaking the law. Still, this may soon change as anti-kratom authorities lurk and constantly seek ways to undermine the herb’s potential. That’s why we recommend you stay up-to-date with related news.

Furthermore, we recommend trusting reputable online vendors, such as Kona Kratom, Star Kratom, or VIP Kratom, with your money. These uphold the best quality standards the industry currently has.