Smoke and vape stores are the new bodegas. Manhattan is home to an estimated 2,000 unlicensed dispensaries, so it’s not far off to say every block has a place to buy THC gummies, bongs, and rolling papers. But these shops aren’t just selling weed and nicotine anymore. Many offer a lesser-known herb that’s drawing customers in – kratom.
Kratom is an herbal supplement known for its stimulant- and opioid-like effects. It’s legal in New York state for those over 21, and unlike weed, shops don’t need a license to sell it. Products containing kratom claim to boost energy, increase focus, enhance relaxation, and even ease pain. Many advocates for the drug say that it’s helped to wean them off more severe substances, like pain pills.
With all these purported benefits, the kratom business is booming, and selling it can be lucrative – it’s estimated that the industry is worth $1.5 billion and growing, according to the American Kratom Association.
St. Louis-based chain CBD Kratom has had enough success to open more than 50 locations nationwide, including 12 in New York City. An employee at the Noho location, which opened in 2022, says she sees the trend growing. “[Kratom] been huge in the Midwest for a while, but it’s definitely getting more popular in the city. A lot of NYU students like to take it to study.”
The chain manufactures most of its own products, sourcing kratom (or Mitragyna speciosa) leaves from Southeast Asia. The green strains are said to boost energy and give a similar effect to prescription stimulants. The red strains, which the employee noted are popular with older customers, are said to offer pain relief and relaxation. There are various ways to take it – capsules, powders, drinks, and gummies. A bag of 30 capsules, which the employee recommended for being “easiest on the stomach,” costs $22.
Naturally, companies have also capitalized on the online market. Retailers like DTE Botanicals advertise high-quality, small-batch kratom. Happy Go Leafy is another online retailer that ships to customers nationwide.
Pop into your local vape store, and they’ll have similar kratom capsules, powders, and drinks ready to go. Ali, an employee at Quik ‘n Ezee Convenience Store on St. Mark’s Place, estimates that one in 10 customers who come through his store are there to buy kratom. “Many of the people who take it are trying to get off of drugs. I have one customer, he comes in every week and buys 16 capsules. There’s another who will come in and buy two or three of the drinks, and it’ll last him a couple of days,” he says. “This is better for them than doing drugs.”
But the herb is not entirely harmless – and may be far from it. The Food and Drug Administration says kratom carries a “risk of serious adverse events, including liver toxicity, seizures, and substance use disorder.” And “in rare cases, deaths have been associated with kratom use,” though the agency notes that for most deaths, kratom was combined with other substances.
The data is also mixed regarding whether it can provide any of the advertised perks. According to The Mayo Clinic, “studies on the effects of kratom have identified many safety concerns and no clear benefits.”
The debate surrounding the dangers and benefits of kratom has made it a point of controversy in medicine and politics. In 2016, the Drug Enforcement Agency announced that it would temporarily classify the substance as a Schedule 1 drug after fears of its addictive qualities came to public attention, but the agency eventually dropped the motion.
“It’s kind of unique in that it’s the only drug that’s [gone]from being proposed to that stage to not being put on the list,” says Dr. Nikhil Teja, an addiction specialist with Dartmouth Medical Center. “There’s been a lot of advocacy from veteran’s groups and other consumer groups saying that it’s been helpful.”
“It’s supposed to act on opioid receptors, so in people’s minds it’s safer than going on buprenorphine or suboxone or other drugs that are used to treat addiction, even though that’s not necessarily true,” Teja adds.
Although it’s not federally controlled, six states – Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin – have outlawed the possession and sale of kratom altogether. Other counties and municipalities, like San Diego and Sarasota County, FL, have followed suit.
For now, kratom sales are alive and well in New York, and many hope to keep it that way. The Kratom Consumer Protection Act, which has already been accepted by a dozen states, was introduced to the New York State Senate in late 2023. The proposed legislation would prevent the FDA from “overregulating” kratom and set general standards for what can be sold on store shelves.
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