We know getting your item for selling to the retail giants is an accomplishment. However, the retail industry comprising of giants like Walmart, Tesco, etc. have specific terms and conditions. You have to meet their criteria to be able to do business with them.
Kratom advocates and vendors have tried for years to do business with these retail giants, but so far, they have failed to do so. Will we ever see Kratom at Walmart? This is something we are all struggling for. When we see the CBD industry doing business with these retail markets, we hope we can do so someday.
Kratom availability at Walmart and Retail Stores
Kratom is not available at any of the big retail stores like GNC, Walgreens, or Walmart. You can only get Kratom products from online vendors rather than popular retail chains.
The reason is that retail chains only do business with products that do not have any legal issues. With Kratom, the reason is apparent, so far, the FDA and the DEA have not approved Kratom.
So, if Walmart starts selling Kratom and any mishap happens with users, Kratom’s source will be traced back to Walmart, and there will be negative publicity about the retail store. It could even lead to a lawsuit if something goes wrong. Thus, retail tycoons tend to stay away from products that are labeled as controlled substances.
Although they can make a lot of money if they partner with the Kratom industry, yet they fear to plunge in because of legality issues.
Five reasons why retail giants should get into Kratom Industry?
1. Kratom industry is the hottest upcoming industry
We mean it when we say Kratom is the upcoming hottest industry in the American market. People of all races and groups seek Kratom. High demand for this product has made it a very profitable trade.
Retail giants can benefit a lot if they start selling Kratom and related products because the cost of cultivation and processing is too low while the selling benefit is too high. According to an estimate, there are around 10-15 million Kratom users only in the United States, so that is one large consumer industry.
2. Kratom is on its way to legalization
Kratom is legal in most states of America, with a general rule applicable in almost all states that Kratom can only be sold to those above 18 years old. It is entirely illegal to purchase, sell, or possess Kratom in only six states, which are Alabama, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Vermont, and Indiana.
The American Kratom Association has been putting a lot of efforts to legalize Kratom and has been trying to start proper scientific research about Kratom.
As a result of these efforts, we can say that Kratom will likely be legalized with specific regulations in the coming years. Therefore, it is an excellent opportunity for the retail market to jump into the Kratom industry.
3. Kratom as a research subject
For years now, scientists are looking at Kratom and are amazed at the diverse effects. Extensive studies have been conducted on mice and other animals to study the facts, mechanism of action, and duration of action of Kratom.
However, to date, no study has been initiated on human beings, which is why Kratom largely remains a confusion amongst people. Nevertheless, the animal studies on Kratom have shown promising results when it comes to Kratom’s analgesic action and its effect on cognition.
Retail stores have an excellent opportunity to seize the Kratom market by having a look at the benefit it provides.
4. Pharma companies are looking into Kratom
For the last couple of years, big pharma companies have been studying the effects of Kratom and are looking at all possible opportunities to incorporate it into their healing properties.
One such company Glaxo Smith Kline showed keen interest in Kratom but couldn’t initiate research on it. Once Kratom is incorporated into medicine-related products like CBD and Marijuana, it will improve its reputation.
If the pharma companies are playing a shot by trusting Kratom, the retail companies like GNC and Walmart can also seize the opportunity.
5. Benefits vs. Safety
When comparing Kratom’s benefits with its side effects, we realize that Kratom has numerous benefits, and the side effects are too minimum. Kratom is a known analgesic that has helped many persons suffering from chronic discomfort conditions.
Kratom is a stimulant that improves your cognition and enables you to perform better. Unlike other stimulants, it doesn’t cause dependency. Users report side effects like nausea, vomiting, and stomach upset that is common to so many other medicinal products, and thus one can rightly say that Kratom is safe.
The only few reports where FDA insisted on linking deaths to Kratom were the ones where the user took not just Kratom but also other substances. Kratom can be made even safer if there are better regulations, and the American Kratom Association is playing its part to ensure its safety.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kratom available OTC?
Kratom is not available over the counter as the federal legislation does not approve it as a substance that can be sold in retail stores. It is only available in online stores, and you can buy it without a prescription.
Kratom is available in black in some retail stores, but you should never rely on local stores as you cannot trace the product if it’s authentic. You don’t know if there have been any additives in the product that you are buying. Also, most of the local stores won’t show you any third-party laboratory tests that verify the contents of the Kratom product you are buying.
Why doesn’t Walmart and other retail giants go into Kratom business?
Some of the reasons Walmart, GNC and retail stores like Tesco avoid doing business with the Kratom industry are listed below:
The fake propaganda against Kratom by the local and national media has created a fear of using Kratom. Retail companies fear to get into business with such an industry that is so notorious in the commons.
The FDA and DEA haven’t approved Kratom as a legal substance for human consumption in terms of the benefits that it provides.
The research on the effects of Kratom is negligible. To sell Kratom as a retail product, you need to be adequately educated about Kratom’s effects and not just rely on user reviews.
Walmart and other retail companies do not want to go into any legal issues by selling and promoting Kratom.
Negative Kratom propaganda and how it affects Kratom’s reputation in the retail industry?
Although Kratom is legal in many states of America, it is eyed as an illegal substance. The negative propaganda that surrounds Kratom has destroyed its reputation in public, which is why many retail companies tend to avoid doing business with the Kratom industry.
To date, many deaths due to overdosing have been attributed to Kratom overdose. It must be noted that Kratom alone, cannot possibly be the cause of death. If mixed with other substances, it can be potentially fatal, that too, because of the summative effects, not the individual effects of Kratom.
What is the Future of Kratom retailing?
Kratom retailing could become one of the most enduring and profitable specialty store categories ever. The profits in the coffee industry, fine wine, and brewing industry give us a glimpse of what the Kratom industry holds for in the retail market in the future. Each of these industries started as small industries that kept profiting, and now, they have a place in the international market.
Heather lives with her husband and two children in beautiful British Columbia. Her passion has always been to enhance the lives of others by helping them reach their own personal goals and accomplishments. Content management is her specialty, and writing is what she does best. Her love for helping others lead her to the cannabis and kratom scene, where she saw an immense gap between patients and medicine that can help them.
