Anything Goes in Washington, D.C., Including Kratom

Written by Johan Hansen
Last Updated 1 year ago

Johan Hansen

Ex-Kratom Shop Owner

Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is legal in the District of Columbia, though the DEA has attempted to ban it in the past.

This article focuses on kratom’s legality in the capital city, the importance of buying online, and its strains and benefits. Moreover, if you were searching for “kratom near me,” we’ve got you covered.

Is Kratom Legal in Washington, D.C.?

Yes, kratom is legal in Washington, D.C.

The main active substances in kratom, mitragynine, and 7-hydroxymitragynine, are not federally controlled. However, some states have banned it.

In 2016, the DEA announced its intention to classify kratom as a Schedule I substance in the Controlled Substances Act, and later that year banned kratom.

As a result, kratom users, scientists, and activists contacted lawmakers to notify them that this regulation seriously harmed the public. Consequently, in 2018, the authorities had to backtrack on this decision, making kratom no longer a Schedule I substance.

In a recent review, the World Health Organization studied kratom and deemed it safe. Hopefully, this will help governments worldwide be more accepting of it.

Top 5 Kratom Shops in Washington, D.C.

There’s no shortage of shops selling kratom, but it pays to be picky — your health and your wallet will thank you. Buying locally is not the safest or cheapest option, but you might at least find what you want in these stores.

1. Qi Kratom CBD Tea

Located at 1517 U St NW STE 1, Qi Kratom CBD Tea is one of the most recommended places to buy kratom in Washington. It differs from other stores by selling 100% pure, lab-tested kratom.

It has all strains of kratom and sells tinctures, oils, capsules, and other novel products. It’s also known for its friendly and knowledgeable staff. If you want to know more, they will be happy to assist you at +1 202-847-0679. You can check their website as well.

2. Tobacco & Vape King

Tobacco & Vape King is one of D.C.’s most popular stores. It sells vape carts, juices, CBD, and kratom. There’s a decent range of strains at reasonable prices, and customers report positive experiences buying Green Indo and Yellow Vietnam.

The store is located at 1543 7th St NW. The employees give excellent recommendations depending on your needs. The store shelves are well laid out, and its atmosphere is quite cozy. You can call them at +1 202-450-1065 or find it online for further inquiries.

3. FunkyPiece Smoke Shop & Glass Gallery

FunkyPiece carries all kinds of vaping, herbal, and smoking products and accessories. It also sells many varieties of kratom, and its customers are happy with the quality to price ratio.

User reviews say employees make you feel comfortable and resolve your queries politely. The store is located at 2116 18th St NW, and you can check out the website or call +1 202-506-3060 to find out if it has what you are looking for.

4. Paradise Smoke & Vape

At 1821 West Virginia Ave NE, Paradise Smoke & Vape sells CBD accessories and products, tobacco, oils, extracts, and more. The kratom here is fresh and of good quality. Some of the strains you can buy there are Red Maeng Da and Green Indo.

It also handles phone inquiries at +1 202-269-9300. User reviews agree that the service is solid and affordable, and it offers discounts. No online store, though.

5. Smoke Island

Here, at 4905 Wisconsin Ave N.W., there’s yet another store where you can buy kratom in Washington. User reviews highlight the helpfulness of its owner, William. Dog lovers rejoice, for the store has a dog that enjoys new faces.

It possesses an extensive selection of kratom strains, such as White Borneo and Red Bali. It also sells vegan THC gummies, cigar rolling kits, delta 8 prerolls, and more. The store is impeccable, and the staff is very knowledgeable. You’ll also find affordable prices. Get in contact through the website.

The United States Capitol building in Washington DC

Why It’s Better to Order Kratom Online

If you’re in the Washington, D.C., you have more than one way to get kratom. Despite the above list, online is better.

Here are the top reasons you should save yourself the drive and order from home instead.

Easier to Verify Kratom Quality — You Don’t Want Added Junk

For starters, buying online is the safest way. You can easily and quickly verify that the products you are looking for have the corresponding COAs. This is paramount, as third-party lab testing ensures that the product is authentic and poses no harm to your health.

Prices Are Lower — Local Stores Have to Jack Their Prices Up

There’s a reason beyond the free shipping that Amazon thrives. It’s really hard to pass up the low prices and minimal effort required to shop there. Yeah, we feel like jerks every time we don’t take advantage of that mom-and-pop store, but we do it anyway.

It’s the same with online kratom vendors. Prices are way better online than in a physical store because the little grocery store down the street is so expensive — overhead costs and middlemen. The only difference is you’re actually justified in buying kratom online since it’s so much safer.

Suggested Reading: What’s The Cheapest Kratom? Save Money On Strains, Blends & Bulk Orders.

Endless Selection — The World of Kratom is At Your Fingertips

Chances are, you’ve looked for something — anything — in a local store, couldn’t find it, and had to go online. It’s also likely that while looking online, you not only found what you wanted, but you also discovered numerous other things like it that you didn’t know existed.

Buying kratom is similar; that little shop on the corner — as cute as it is and as helpful as the owner can be — cannot carry the number of strains and products you’ll find online (which is all of them; if it exists, you have access to it).

Online Shopping is Easier — This One is Obvious

Finally, you save time, and online shopping functionality is unsurpassed. You won’t deal with the hassle of parking, waiting for service, checking COAs on the spot, or anything like that. Instead, you are assured of buying a reliable and safe product with a few clicks.

Kratom Vendors That Ship to Washington, D.C.

Now that you know why online is ideal, here’s a list of the top online kratom vendors. Not every online store is safe, but these all stand out for their exceptional quality and have more than proven themselves to be faithful and consistent.

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

The number one spot on our list belongs to Kona Kratom. First, the variety of strains it sells is impressive: White Maeng Da, Red Dragon, and Super Green Malay, to name a few. The positive experiences of its users confirm it as one of the most reliable.

In addition to its extensive range of products, it bears unbeatable prices. You won’t sacrifice quality or even safety. On the contrary, it has up-to-date COAs from independent laboratories to verify there’s nothing unexpected and everything you want.

2. Star Kratom

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

Star Kratom

4.9 / 5
Ranked 2 out of 190 vendors

Local stores have one thing going for them; they meet your needs immediately. You don’t have to wait for your order to be delivered. Star Kratom might solve that somewhat. If you need top-quality kratom delivered fast to your home, you’ll love this vendor.

Star Kratom may be pretty new to the market, but it’s already renowned for holding the fastest delivery times in the business.

It also has very high-quality standards yet competitive prices. The brand sells kratom capsules and powder of every strain, and you get a ten percent welcome discount.

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

If you accept nothing less than supreme quality, VIP Kratom is for you. However, we recommend you be careful with the dosage as the products are very potent. Prices are slightly higher than other brands for this very reason.

Reviews from experienced users confirm that VIP Kratom’s products are worth the money. It sells kratom in powder and capsules of all strains. For example, the best-selling strains are Red Thai, Green Maeng Da, and White Horn. Word is it holds the highest quality standards in the market.

Any product you buy from VIP Kratom comes with a 30-day guarantee. If you’re not completely satisfied with the product, it refunds every penny, no matter the reason.

4. Green Leaf Kratom

Aka GMP Certified no
Pricing $22.99 — $350.00
Verified Vendor

Green Leaf Kratom

2 / 5
Ranked 149 out of 190 vendors

Green Leaf Kratom occupies fourth place in our ranking. This brand counts years of experience and sells tropical strains, such as Indo kratom and Bali kratom. In addition, it offers free shipping within the U.S. and a money-back guarantee as a bonus.

However, it has no sales nor offers discounts almost all year round.

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

Established in 2001, Remarkable Herbs is the oldest brand in the market. In addition to kratom, they supply a vast range of less popular medicinal plants, such as Kava and Mimosa hostilis, plus kratom’s close relatives Mitragyna hirsuta and Mitragyna javanica.

It sells unique strains, such as Malaysian kratom and Vietnam kratom, possesses AKA sponsorship, and publishes its COAs. You’ll also find fair prices.

Unfortunately, it only does wholesale, so you’ll have to buy through an intermediary.

Which Kratom Strain Should I Use?

Kratom strains are divided by the color of their veins: white, green, and red.

If you’re using kratom for a specific purpose, like pain, you’ll need to know how these strains affect you.

Green Vein Kratom Powder

Green strains have a range of effects halfway between the other two varieties. Users choose green vein kratom powder because it provides effects that vary between stimulation and relaxation typical of the other two vein colors.

The top-rated varieties of green kratom are:

Red Vein Kratom Powder

Red vein kratom contains higher levels of 7-hydroxymitragynine, which interacts strongly with mu-opioid receptors and produces analgesic and calming effects. That’s why users with opioid dependence choose red vein kratom powder to treat withdrawal symptoms. It also relieves chronic pain and anxiety.

The top-rated red-vein kratom strains are:

White Vein Kratom Powder

Lastly, white vein kratom powder has a higher content of mitragynine. This alkaloid stimulates serotonin secretion and helps improve concentration, boost energy, and stabilize your mood.

The top-rated white-vein kratom strains are:

What is the American Kratom Association?

The American Kratom Association (AKA) is a Virginia-based non-profit organization established in 2014. It emerged out of the need to respond to the campaign the FDA undertook in 2012 to defame kratom.

Kratom is a medicinal plant, much safer than prescription opioids and with broader therapeutic potential; many users choose kratom to treat opioid addiction. However, authorities stubbornly fight these natural alternatives.

In the United States, the campaign to ban kratom is still ongoing. Much of the responsibility lies with the FDA for approving medicine and food. However, the FDA often accepts drugs that cause adverse reactions, addiction, and even death.

The AKA’s most important goal is to keep kratom legal. Its mission is to provide users with vital information and access to treatment. In this way, they guarantee the freedom to decide on the well-being and health of the user. They also fight to correct the onslaught of misinformation about kratom and the threats posed by the FDA.

The AKA brings together scientists, government members, and other responsible users. One of the AKA’s tasks is certifying kratom sellers. For this purpose, they review manufacturing processes and test products. Therefore, we highly recommend that you always buy from AKA-approved vendors.

How to Take Kratom

In this section, we’ll discuss the different methods of consuming kratom. Some of these work well for disguising the taste of kratom.

Prepare A Tea

Preparing kratom in tea form means quick and easy absorption. In addition, many users report milder and more pleasant effects than capsules or the toss n’ wash method. Plus, it reduces the chances of nausea or diarrhea. It is also easier to share it with friends this way.

To make tea with kratom powder, simmer it for about 15 minutes. The water should bubble gently. Excessive heat can damage some of the active substances in kratom. Also, mixing herbs like ginger or green tea helps overcome the somewhat bitter, unpleasant taste of kratom.

You can also use the crushed kratom leaf to brew the tea. Then, you can simmer or steep it using a tea ball or French press. This method reports a smoother and more pleasant experience than powdered tea.

Hints to make the tea more palatable:

  • Add sugar, stevia, or licorice root to counteract the bitterness
  • Use honey or maple syrup to reduce astringency
  • Mix in an oil or fat like butter, coconut oil, or heavy cream

One huge benefit of making tea is that it works well with kratom potentiators. Freezing kratom tea may be a way to increase its potency. Additionally, you can mix it with orange or grapefruit juice. Citric acid is likely to help improve the bioavailability of its alkaloids. Finally, you can re-boil the leaves two or even three times, but the final product will become less and less potent each time.

Toss N Wash Method

The toss-n-wash method is only for the bravest. However, it is a quick and straightforward alternative: just put a spoonful of kratom in your mouth (toss) and then immediately drink a sip of liquid (wash). Most users turn to this method after trying the other alternatives.

It’s practical because you don’t have to follow any recipes.

You can use your favorite drink, but here are some recommendations:

You may take it with cold orange juice. Mango juice also has a perfect texture to mix with kratom. Grapefruit juice is a powerful antioxidant, and it may boost the duration of the effects.

You can also wash down kratom with teas, like chamomile or peppermint. However, remember that excessive heat affects its properties. Therefore, it is best to let the tea cool down before mixing it with kratom.

Parachute

Parachuting, sometimes called “bombing,” is the perfect way to avoid the unpleasant taste of kratom and get an immediate effect. It simply involves wrapping the kratom powder in thin paper, such as toilet paper, and swallowing.

The difference between capsules and parachuting is that the paper dissolves faster than the gelatin in the capsules. The effects will onset as soon as the stomach acids break down the wrapper. Also, the gelatin capsules are more expensive than the powder.

Users prefer to put larger doses in their parachutes not to swallow paper several times. You can do parachuting on an empty stomach or eat a light snack before, as preferred.

Types of Kratom Products

Shopping online opens the door to the many different kratom products out there. Here are a few you’ll likely come across.

Kratom Powder

Kratom powder is obtained by drying and pulverizing the leaves of the Mitragyna speciosa tree. This tree is native to Southeast Asia and is a close relative of coffee.

Workers in the area chew the plant’s leaves to combat fatigue and concentrate on their work. Today, people use it to ease anxiety, chronic pain, and more.

The advantages of using powdered kratom are several. It’s a reasonably cost-effective method of using kratom, and you have access to more strains.

However, the powder has disadvantages: its taste is highly bitter and earthy. It is also not discreet, and consuming it on the go is quite complicated. Also, unless you have a scale, dosing isn’t highly accurate.

Kratom Capsules

Kratom capsules consist of a gelatin base filled with powdered kratom, making it the most suitable method for users who are new to kratom.

The capsules are an easy-to-use, convenient, discreet alternative while travel-friendly and tasteless.

Still, not all strains come in capsule form. Pills are more expensive than powder, and you will have to take many capsules for large doses.

Kratom Tinctures

Kratom tinctures are alcohol-based extracts and not the most popular way to consume kratom, mainly due to cost. All the kratom alkaloids that we know of are soluble in ethanol. In addition, the ugly taste of the plant disappears.

Tinctures are more stable and have a very long shelf life. Moreover, they are discreet and easy to transport. Consuming it with a dropper will help you better control the dosage and reduce side effects.

Making your own kratom tincture is an inexpensive and effective method. Applying the drops under the tongue (sublingually) delivers the alkaloids directly into the bloodstream, making its effects faster.

Furthermore, you can add other medicinal herbs to your tincture to enhance its therapeutic effect.

Conclusion: Getting Kratom in Washington, D.C.

Kratom is legal in the capital city, and you have many stores to choose from.

The safest way to obtain premium-quality kratom is to purchase it online from a trusted online vendor. We highly recommend visiting Kona Kratom, VIP Kratom, or Star Kratom’s websites, as they are the top 3 vendors on our list.