Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is entirely legal in the state of Utah.
In this article, you’ll find information about kratom’s legal status in Utah, along with a general overview of kratom strains, a helpful buyer’s Utah-friendly buyer’s guide, and some tips for using kratom safely.
There’s also a section covering popular uses for kratom to help you decide which kind of kratom is best for you.
Is Kratom Legal in Utah?
Yes, kratom is legal in Utah as long as you’re 21 years of age or older.
Utah was the first state in the United States to pass the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (SB58), a policy designed to hold kratom manufacturers to quality and purity standards. Utah’s state legislature passed the bill in 2019.
Most of the regulations on kratom focus on the manufacturing and retail side of the industry, so there isn’t much you need to know as a kratom consumer. As long as you’re over 21, you can purchase and use kratom legally in Utah.
Learn more about kratom laws in the United States.
Where to Buy Kratom in Utah
You have two main avenues at your disposal; you can either shop online or look for a local shop that sells kratom.
There are advantages and disadvantages to each method, but, in general, buying kratom online is the preferred method for sourcing this tropical plant.
Buying Kratom Online: Why It’s The Preferred Method
When you purchase kratom online, you benefit in several ways. The most significant advantages of shopping online are price and quality.
Online vendors like VIP Kratom and Kona Kratom send their products to third-party laboratories that independently check and verify the kratom’s quality and purity, giving you peace of mind.
Brick-and-mortar stores don’t have this verification since many stores sell products from other companies.
Online retailers also offer better prices than local shops since the kratom comes in bulk directly from the manufacturer. With fewer intermediaries sharing the profits, online shops can lower their costs and pass some of the savings on to you, the customer.
Ultimately, you’ll pay less for a higher quality product when shopping online for kratom.
Buying Kratom In-Store: Finding Kratom Nearby
If shopping in person is more your speed, there are plenty of shops in Utah that carry kratom.
Buying kratom in person is the only way to go if you prioritize getting it as quickly as possible.
Be aware that you’re sacrificing the quality checks associated with buying online and that you’ll have to pay a premium for purchasing kratom locally.
Here are some shops in Utah to get you started on your search. The majority of locations are in Salt Lake City, so you might need to travel a bit, depending on where you live.
Kratom Shops in Utah:
The Tinderbox
The Tinderbox is a large tobacco shop in Murray that primarily carries cigars, pipes, and tobacco and has a small selection of kratom products. You should call for availability since stock can be limited.
Smokers Guru
This generic smoke shop in Salt Lake City has a wider selection than the Tinderbox but also has higher prices. It’s known for its customer service and generally has good reviews.
Eastern Vapor CBD Superstore
These guys are located in West Valley City and carry an impressive range of kratom, CBD, and vape products. The prices are competitive, and the staff is friendly and quick to answer customer questions.
21st Smoke Shop
21st Smoke Shop is another Salt Lake City smoke shop featuring kratom alongside cigars and tobacco products. They have a decent selection of kratom, and prices are fair, although not as affordable as most online vendors.
Robertsons
Another Salt Lake City shop, Robertsons, specializes in cigars and tobacco but also carries a small variety of kratom. The store is welcoming and neat, and the prices are reasonable.
Find Kratom Near You
Check out where to buy kratom in:
What To Look For When Buying Kratom
Before you make a purchase, there are a few things you should know. The following will help you choose the right strain to suit your needs and offer tips for identifying reputable kratom companies.
Strain Selection
There are three primary kratom strains, each with different uses and effects.
Choosing the right strain is essential for having a good experience with kratom since each variety has very different uses.”
Red Vein Kratom
Red vein kratom is generally used as a sedative and tends to make users feel relaxed and sleepy. It’s an analgesic and mild muscle-relaxer, making it perfect to use for taking the edge off chronic pain. Red-vein kratom is best taken at night since it has a potent mellowing effect on most users.
White Vein Kratom
White-vein kratom is a stimulant and gives its users an energy boost. Most white vein kratom users take it in the morning and frequently describe its effects as being similar to a caffeine rush. White vein kratom is sometimes used to treat anxiety and depression and may aid in cognitive performance.
Green Vein Kratom
If both red-vein and white-vein appeal to you, consider buying green vein kratom, a hybrid strain that borrows some effects from each of the previous two strains. Green-vein users swear by its smooth energy boost, claiming that it enhances their focus without making them feel jittery or jumpy.
Look For AKA Certification
Unfortunately, the kratom industry has many unsavory participants looking to make a profit at all costs. These bad actors cut their kratom with foreign and potentially addictive substances or sell low-quality products to save money, with sometimes devastating side effects for their customers.
To combat such nefarious practices, the American Kratom Association (AKA) offers an independent certification program to help weed out shady businesses.
The AKA tests companies’ kratom and certifies that they meet the proper quality and purity levels. To maintain AKA certification, companies must agree to be audited annually so that the AKA can monitor the products.
It’s best to only patronize AKA-certified businesses to be sure that you’re buying only high-quality, pure kratom. Online vendors often have AKA certification, while brick-and-mortar shops do not.
Local shops sometimes have trouble obtaining AKA certification since they sell other company’s products and ultimately don’t have control over the kratom sold.
Company Reputation
You should do some internet-sleuthing before you buy kratom from anyone, whether you shop online or in person. A quick Google search will turn up customer reviews and shed light on any potential problems or unsavory practices. Read as many reviews as you can find and try to source those reviews from multiple locations, if possible.
These in-depth vendor reviews can give you a headstart and provide valuable information about the top online kratom vendors.
What Are People Using Kratom For?
Now that you know the best practices for purchasing kratom and the ins and outs of buying online and in-person, it’s time to discuss what kratom’s uses are.
Pain Relief
By far, the most common use for kratom is as a pain reliever. Red-vein kratom especially is an excellent herbal analgesic, meaning it works to block pain signals before they can be transmitted to your brain. Kratom shares many biological and chemical features with opioid-based painkillers, making it an effective pain treatment.
Kratom is also a moderately effective muscle relaxer and can help reduce inflammation, both of which assist in relieving pain.
Anxiety & Depression
Some strains of kratom — mostly white-vein and green-vein varieties — may support anxiety and depression. Many medications used to treat these illnesses come with a host of unpleasant side effects, making kratom a better alternative in some cases.
In general, you want to choose a strain known for improving mood and boosting energy since those strains tend to perform best at relieving the symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Opiate Withdrawal
It was mentioned earlier that kratom functions similar to opioids, and therefore is often used to manage symptoms of opiate withdrawal in recovering opioid abusers.
Red-vein kratom is mostly used for this purpose since it alleviates the pain and discomfort experienced during withdrawal.
Energy & Focus
White and green kratom strains give users a boost of energy, with white strains providing the more significant kick.
There is little clinical evidence to support this use, but anecdotal evidence indicates that white strains, especially, may improve cognition, enhance a person’s ability to concentrate, and possibly increase memory capacity. Taking kratom as a nootropic is an emerging use that requires more study.
Is Kratom Safe?
Kratom, like many herbs and medications, is safe to use when used responsibly. The key to using kratom safely is to take small doses and pay close attention to your body’s response. Being able to recognize side effects can help you adjust your dose size in the future and keep your kratom experiences pleasant and effective.
New and experienced users alike should keep doses between 2 and 5 g. The side effects are most common and most severe in quantities over 10 g.
Kratom is potentially addictive if it’s taken too often. Experts recommend taking kratom no more than 4 to 5 days per week. In addition, taking a week-long break every 1 to 2 months can help you avoid developing a dependence on kratom.
Side Effects of Kratom
Kratom side effects are usually pretty mild, but nausea is the most common and likely to happen with the first few uses.
Here are some of the most common side effects of kratom to be aware of:
Nausea
Many kratom users report feeling sick after taking kratom, with individuals taking higher doses reporting this more often. Keep your doses to under 5g of kratom powder to mitigate this symptom.
Dizziness
Some users feel dizzy after taking kratom due to the impact kratom has on the body’s adrenal function. In most cases, you can avoid feeling dizzy by limiting your doses to 5g or less.
Anxiety
Despite its use as an anti-anxiety treatment, large doses can exacerbate anxiety. If you’re prone to anxiety or are using kratom as a treatment for anxiety, you should start small with a maximum dose of 2g or less, gradually increasing until the symptoms subside without side effects popping up.
Mental Fog
People who take more than 10g of kratom sometimes experience mental fog. It’s extremely rare for users taking less than 10 g to experience any cloudy-headedness or lack of mental clarity — as such, reducing your dose is generally a good solution for this side effect.
Tiredness
Taking kratom for extended periods without a break can lead to lethargy. Long stretches of tiredness and systemic fatigue signify that you need to give your body time to recover.
Switching to a more relaxing strain is also advised if you frequently feel tired while taking kratom.
Other Side Effects & Considerations
Some anecdotal evidence indicates that kratom use is linked with liver and kidney damage. While these claims are not supported by any clinical studies, it’s possible that kratom is not safe for people with existing liver or kidney problems.
Under no circumstances should pregnant women use kratom. People who drink regularly, take daily medication, or use recreational drugs should not take kratom simultaneously due to potentially harmful drug interactions.
It’s also not safe to mix kratom and alcohol.
What’s The Future of Kratom in Utah
Kratom’s future in Utah looks bright. Utah has taken a proactive and positive stance towards kratom, becoming the first state to pass the KCPA in 2019.
Establishing a legal precedent for controlled use by persons over the age of 21 is a good sign that Utah lawmakers are comfortable with kratom’s legal status and makes them unlikely to change it.
While many states consider passing legislation to ban kratom, Utah seems to be on track to keep kratom legally regulated. Nothing is certain, but it looks like kratom will remain legal in Utah for the foreseeable future.
