Puerto Rico, or the “Rich Port,” is a territory located in the Caribbean Sea. Although closely related to the USA, it is an unincorporated territory of the US, consisting of the main island and several other smaller islands.
Puerto Rico is an amalgam of European, African, North American, and South American cultures, thus having its own unique identity not found anywhere else in the world.
When it comes to Puerto Rico, there have always been controversies regarding the widespread drug culture, especially in the major cities. There are many cases of homicides related to drug dealings. So a question arises:
“In such a hostile environment where drugs are sometimes viewed as a curse by the Government officials, will Kratom ever find its footing?” Let’s try to find out the answer to this question.
Kratom- Some Common Facts & Concerns
Kratom is a drug that has both medicinal and recreational uses. In southeast Asia, people have been using it for decades because of its many beneficial effects. It was introduced in the US almost 20 years ago.
Since then, the citizens of the US have been consuming it, sometimes as a refreshing cup of tea and sometimes by incorporating it in their smoothies.
Some have used it to treat their chronic joint pain, while others get rid of their opioid addiction. There are many benefits to this drug, but research has not proved that yet. These include:
- Analgesic effects
- Opiate withdrawal
- Anti Anxiety effects
- Antidepressant
- Boosted energy levels
- Treatment of insomnia
Recently, researchers at John Hopkins published a public survey. More than 2700 self-reported users of Kratom took part in this survey.
Of all the participants, 91% used it for pain relief, 67% to treat anxiety, while 64% and 41% used it to treat depression and opioid addiction, respectively.
When the team inquired about the side effects, 19% said that they had experienced mild effects of the drug from time to time, while 1.9% reported having experienced severe side effects. 9.5% of the respondents also felt some withdrawal symptoms.
The reported side effects of Kratom include:
- Dry Mouth
- Constipation
- Nausea and vomiting
- Weight Loss
- Insomnia
- Liver Failure
- Seizures and coma
- Hallucinations and delusions
What Do The FDA & The DEA Say?
The official Government bodies have never been fans of Kratom consumption. They have always tried to criminalize its use by proposing bans on its sale.
They back their arguments by saying that there is currently no study that has proven any beneficial effects of this drug.
In 2016, the DEA proposed to classify Kratom as a Schedule 1 drug. They backed their proposal with the argument that Kratom has a potential for dependency, withdrawal symptoms, and craving.
The CDC is also playing its part in criminalizing the use of Kratom. According to them, many drug overdose-related deaths are associated with Kratom abuse.
One wonders, how is Kratom legal in most of the states of the USA while almost every official organization has such hostility towards it. Let’s answer this question.
Is Kratom Legal In Puerto Rico?
Yes. Currently, it is legal in Puerto Rico, and there is no legislation against it in the Senate. But, it is essential to note that Kratom is illegal in six states of the USA, which are Arkansas, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, Alabama, Indiana, and Vermont. So, you cannot fly to these states while having Kratom on you.
The American Kratom Association (AKA) is working avidly to legalize and regulate the consumption of Kratom. But what is the AKA, and what role is it playing?
The Role Of American Kratom Association (AKA)
The AKA was formed in 2014 to defend the rights of all Kratom users in the USA. People gathered under the flag of the AKA to protect the freedom of consumers to make their own choices. According to them, they have five main goals:
- To support and defend all the Kratom consumers in the US.
- To educate, not only the general public but also the Government officials.
- To provide a platform to all the Kratom users to raise their voices and share their stories with the world.
- To spread awareness and knowledge about Kratom among the global community.
- To promote and protect natural resources as Kratom is a unique natural resource.
The AKA, during the course of its struggle, has done an excellent job of advocating the rights of Kratom consumers in the US.
Some of their most notable works include the implementation of the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA) and the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) program.
The KCPA is an act that protects the rights of the consumers by regulating the distribution and use of all the Kratom products as well as proposing penalties for all those who do not follow the said rules and regulations.
The AKA has been successful in passing their agenda in many states, but a few states have banned this act while in others, the legislative work is still in progress.
The GMP, on the other hand, is a certification program that was introduced by the AKA to ensure the safe distribution of Kratom products to the consumers. The AKA invites all the vendors in the US to register themselves with this program.
The registered participants have to pay an annual fee, which is used to cover the administrative costs.
The participants of this certification program have to follow a specific set of rules, like listing the ingredients of their kratom products on the labels and regular lab testing of their products.
These practices make sure that only the safest of products reach the consumers. Our advice is to buy the Kratom products from a GMP certified distributor.
Best Kratom Online Stores In Puerto Rico?
1) Clouds Vape and Smoke
Clouds Vape & Smoke offers the most extensive variety of E-juices, vape kits, accessories, and everything related to vaporizers and electronic cigarettes. Its opening hours are 10 am – 10 pm.
This shop’s rating is 4.9 out of 5 based on 49 customer reviews.
Location: Local 5, 5900 Av. Isla Verde piso 2, Carolina, 00979, Puerto Rico
For more information, visit https://cloudsvapeandsmoke.com/.
2) Smokers Delight PR Herbal Smoke / Vape Shop
This amazing smoke shop offers free shipping on orders above 75$. They have a wide variety of smoking products, including Kratom, CBD, Mods, and E- liquids. Its opening hours are 9 am – 6 pm.
This shop’s rating is 4.7 out of 5 based on 83 customer reviews.
Location: 90 Puerto Rico 174 Bayamón Puerto Rico, 00956, Puerto Rico
For more information, visit https://www.smokersdelightpr.com/
3) Cigarit.com Tobacco Shop
Cigarit.com is an excellent online store for purchasing high-quality Cigars, CBD, Kratom, and other smoking accessories. Refunds are accepted if the package is not open. Its opening hours are 11 am – 10 pm.
This shop’s rating is 4.4 out of 5 based on 30 customer reviews.
Location: 6150 Isla Verde Ave #9, Carolina, PR 00979
For more information, visit http://www.cigarit.com/
4) La Isla Vapor & Smoke Shop
This tobacco shop solely made to provide the best quality products and gain customer’s trust. They offer E-cigarettes, Vaporizers, CBD, and kratom products. Its opening hours are 8 am – 8 pm.
This shop’s rating is 4.8 out of 5 based on 131 customer reviews.
Location: 183 Belt Rd, Aguadilla Pueblo, Aguadilla 00603, Puerto Rico
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/laislavapor
5) Don Collins
It is one of the most popular and oldest shops providing the best quality cigars and kratom products. Its opening hours are 9 am – 7 pm.
This shop’s rating is 4.6 out of 5 based on 160 customer reviews.
Location: 59 Calle del Cristo, San Juan, 00901, Puerto Rico
For more information, visit http://www.don-collins.com/
Local Stores of Kratom in Puerto Rico
1) Smoke It And More
This local store has the best products and all smoking accessories so that more people love to buy from here. Its opening hours are 10 am – 9 pm.
This shop’s rating is 4.6 out of 5 based on 416 customer reviews.
Location: 257 Calle Tanca, San Juan, 00901, Puerto Rico
2) Gorilla Vapes Santurce
It has an extensive variety of vaporizers, E-juices, E-cigarettes, and other kratom products. Its opening hours are 9 am – 8 pm.
This shop’s rating is 4.7 out of 5 based on 135 customer reviews.
Location: 1502 Avenida de la Constitución, San Juan, 00908, Puerto Rico
3) KEK Cigar & Smoke Lounge
It is one of the best stores in Puerto Rico and has everything you need for smoking. Its opening hours are 10 am – 7.30 pm.
This shop’s rating is 4.4 out of 5 based on 27 customer reviews.
Location: 154 Calle de la Fortaleza, San Juan, 00901, Puerto Rico
How can I purchase this?