Hawaii- a state made up of many islands surrounded by water. A state that is not a part of North America. A heavenly place that everybody wishes to visit once in his life.
Hawaii is the most recent state to join the union in 1959. Full of unique flora and fauna, it is a place every tourist, vacationer, herbalist, and naturalist wants to visit at least once in his life.
Hawaii is home to Mauna Kea, the highest and the most active volcano in the world. It is also one of the largest producers of pineapples and macadamia nuts in the whole world.
Among all other herbs, Kratom, a herbal extract obtained from a tropical evergreen plant, Mitragyna speciosa, is gaining popularity among the natives as well as the travelers. But is Hawaii welcoming this drug?
Kratom Laws In Hawaii
Kratom was brought to the United States almost 20 years ago. Since then, people have been using it both as a medicinal and recreational drug. There’s still a lot of controversy surrounding the use of Kratom by the general public.
Many a time, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the FDA have tried to criminalize Kratom. But confronting them are millions of Kratom users under the flag of the American Kratom Association (AKA).
In 2016, the DEA tried to convince the lawmakers to classify Kratom as a schedule 1 drug. There has been some research that backs their arguments. Similarly, the FDA is also against its consumption.
In a statement, an FDA official, Scott Gottlieb said, that there is no evidence to support the use of Kratom as a treatment for opioid addiction. But the AKA has always stood up against the DEA and the FDA.
Answering the claims of the DEA, the AKA submitted an eleven-page letter and a petition signed by thousands of Americans. By the avid efforts of the AKA, the use of Kratom has remained legal in many states of the USA.
But it should also be kept in mind that the use of Kratom that has been adulterated is a criminal offense and is also discouraged by the AKA.
Also, it is illegal in six states of the USA, which are Arkansas, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, Alabama, Indiana, and Vermont.
Is Kratom Legal In Hawaii
Fortunately, Kratom is currently legal in Hawaii, and many of the Hawaiians and other travelers are enjoying its benefits.
It is crucial to note that it is illegal in six states of the USA, which are Arkansas, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, Alabama, Indiana, and Vermont.
So even if you buy it in Hawaii, you cannot take it to these states. Otherwise, you’ll be charged according to the laws of that state.
Recently, in 2020, a bill was presented in the Senate by representatives of the Democratic Party. In this bill, they asked the Senate to ban Kratom and make it a Schedule V drug.
Their reasons were the same as those of the DEA and the FDA. But the bill died in the Senate when the sponsors of the bill came to know about the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA).
Apparently, the sponsors were interested in knowing more about the KCPA.
What Is KCPA?
KCPA is a legislative act that ensures the rights and the safety of Kratom consumers. It does so by regulating the sale and consumption of all the Kratom products as well as discouraging and criminalizing the use of unregulated and adulterated products.
In this way, all the distributors could provide only the safest products to the general public, and any product that does not meet the required safety criteria is discarded.
The AKA is working day and night to push this act in every state and get it passed. They have been successful in a few states.
Every state can make a few changes to the terms of the act according to their requirements. Still, the key points remain the same and are as follows:
- Definition of Kratom
- Listing the amount of all the ingredients in a particular Kratom product
- Prohibition of sale of certain adulterated products
- Penalties for those who do not follow these rules
- Registration of every new and existing Kratom product
The states that have followed these protocols have been successful in regulating the products, and the results are quite positive.
What Is GMP Certification?
American Kratom Association introduced a Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) program for the quality control of all the Kratom products.
It enforces the Kratom distributors to list all the ingredients present in their respective products. There is a list of GMP certified sellers on the AKA website.
Some things should be kept in mind. Many vendors sell Kratom that has been mixed with some other dangerous substances like heavy metals and opiates for more profit.
So, buyers should always look at the contents of the strain of Kratom that they are buying, and the safest way is to buy Kratom from a GMP approved dealership.
If you decide to buy from a local store, there are a few things you can do to ensure that the product you buy is up to the industry standards.
In order to find the best store to purchase your favorite Kratom product, you can seek help from the following:
- Friends and acquaintances
- Google Maps
- Yelp
- Yellow pages
The Controversy Surrounding Kratom!
Kratom has always been a controversial subject for the Federal bodies and also the general public. At times, it has been linked with drug overdose deaths.
Other times, there were some studies that claim that Kratom use is associated with the abuse of other harmful drugs like opioids and benzodiazepines.
But most of these researches are not based on solid grounds, and there have been myriads of studies that have debunked these claims.
Is Kratom Native To Hawaii?
No. Kratom is not native to Hawaii. But it is noteworthy that it is grown here but at a smaller scale as compared to Indonesia.
Here, the farmers are not aware of the meticulous grafting methods that are employed by the Indonesian farmers.
Also, the weather here is unstable and can wreak havoc on the crops. Kratom is grown in the tropical areas of Indonesia and exports the best quality strains to the United States.
Where To Buy Kratom In Hawaii?
When it comes to buying Kratom, you can either buy it locally or online. Both have their own pros and cons.
Buying online means that you cannot check the quality of the product you are buying. But you can find many reviews of these online vendors and their specific products that can help you ease the buying process.
We always advise that you buy online because most of the online sellers are Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certified.
Best Online Kratom Stores In Hawaii
1) Island Vapor E-cigarettes
A fantastic place to visit and buy vape juices. They also have organic Kratom products. The owner is amiable and courteous.
They have a rating of 4.3 out of 5 based on 30 reviews.
Address: Kihei, HI 96753, United States
Website: http://shop.islandvapor.com/
2) Island e-Cig & Vape Co.
They have a vast variety of vape juices, including those containing kratom products. The staff is knowledgeable and super-nice.
They have a rating of 4.4 out of 5 based on 30 reviews.
Address: 415 Dairy Rd, Kahului, HI 96732, United States
Website: http://onovapes.com/
3) Irie Hawaii Smoke and Vape Shop
This chain of stores has many outlets across Hawaii. They have a selection of products to choose from, including Kratom products.
The reviewers have rated this place 4.6 out of 5 based on 124 reviews.
Address: 75-5629 Kuakini Hwy i, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, United States
Website: https://iriehawaii.com/
4) Hawaiian Holy Smokes
Possibly the best shop you’ll ever find in the whole state of Hawaii. Great prices and even greater people. From CBD oil to hookahs, you can find everything here.
It has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 based on 63 reviews.
Address: 719 Kamehameha Hwy, Pearl City, HI 96782, United States
Website: https://hawaiianholysmokes.business.site/?utm_source=gmb&utm_medium=referral
Best Local Kratom Stores in Hawaii
1) Smokey’s Waikiki
A local store based in Honolulu, they have an ample selection of cigars, cigarettes, vape juices, incense, and some other accessories. They are budget-friendly as well.
The store has a rating of 4.4 based on 117 reviews.
Address: 159 Kaʻiulani Ave #101, Honolulu, HI 96815, United States
2) Hi Supply Smoke Shop
This store has everything you need. Cigarettes, vapes, cigars, etc. The location is excellent, and the staff is friendly.
The reviewers have rated it 4.7 based on 70 reviews.
Address: 550 Olive Ave, Wahiawa, HI 96786, United States
3) Da Smoke Shop Maui Kahului and Haiku
This is an excellent place. It has one of the best collections of smoking products in the whole state. You won’t regret visiting this place.
It has been rated 4.7 out of 5 by 42 reviewers.
Address: 283 Lalo St unit d, Kahului, HI 96732, United States
4) Natural Mystic
Great location. Great staff. Great stuff. It is one of the best places that you can visit. You can find everything you need in this store.
It has a rating of 4.2 out of 5 based on 42 reviews.
Address: 203 S King St, Honolulu, HI 96813, United States
5) Smokey’s Pipe and Coffee
Not only can you smoke in this small cafe, but you can also quench your caffeine thirst. Both smoking products and food are excellent.
It has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 based on 136 reviews.
Address: 1010 University Ave, Honolulu, HI 96826, United States
