Kratom is surely making waves, both across the US and worldwide, all thanks to advanced technology, for easily and readily making it available for selling or purchasing with a few clicks at online stores. However, the act of figuring out the right place to buy your Kratom supplies, especially locally, can somewhat be challenging at times!
Regardless of if you’re a newbie to the supplement world or a Kratom devotee, you might have thoughts of checking out local stores, particularly supplement stores. You might have come across countless ones in your area. Still, if you’re wondering to explore and particularly interested in knowing if Kratom lies on the shelves of the Vitamin Shoppe, then this article is exclusively for you! This article will introduce you to The Vitamin Shoppe and highlight the reasons why you can’t purchase Kratom from here!
An overview of Kratom
Mitragyna speciosa, aka Kratom, is a tree (coffee family) found in Southeast Asia and tropical Africa. Traditionally, it is consumed in the form of tea; however, there are many forms of Kratom products, including powders, extracts, capsules, resins, tinctures, liquid shots, etc.
Don’t let the label of ‘natural’ or ‘herbal’ supplement fool you; it also possesses a dark side. Like opioids, it also poses a risk of addictiveness.
Is Kratom legal to purchase?
With such widespread availability, surely you must have questions regarding the safety and legality of the drug. The US comprises two types of legal systems: Federal and state levels, each using different legislation, making the legal system complicated.
Generally speaking, as per federal law, buying, possessing, using Kratom (at a national level) is legal. However, state laws get a bit complicated; each state and even city has its unique laws and regulation. For instance, states and cities that have banned it include Alabama, Vermont, Indiana, Wisconsin, Sarasota County, Denver (Colorado), Rhode Island, San Diego (California), etc.
The legality of Kratom (US) is the foremost reason why it’s not easy to buy it at some stores, including The Vitamin Shoppe.
The Vitamin Shoppe
The Vitamin Shoppe is a nutritional supplement store established in 1977, New Jersey. With over 730 stores across the country, you’ll find a huge assortment of high-quality, cutting-edge supplements, proteins, healthy weight support, aromatherapy, herbs, superfoods, natural beauty products, and much more!
The brand promises to deliver tested, trusted, premium quality products, meeting industry standards and FDA guidelines.
Although the brand sells a vast array of products but is Kratom one of them? The short answer is, “No!” However, you can get your hands on other helpful supplies linked to the product, e.g., one Redditor felt satisfied in coming across a ‘Powder Jet’ (used for storing and funneling Kratom powder) at one of their local stores.
The Vitamin Shoppe also supplies numerous empty gelatin and vegetarian capsules. You can even get yourself a Capsule Machine filler and use it to load your Kratom powder!
Why doesn’t The Vitamin Shoppe supply Kratom?
There are several reasons as to why it doesn’t sell supplements like Kratoms; here are the main reasons:
1. Credit Card companies ban buying/selling of Kratom
The Vitamin Shoppe offers a variety of items that range from well-trusted products and supplements to questionable items that have led to new state regulations; without any doubt, The Vitamin Shoppe wouldn’t mind supplying Kratom either. Undoubtedly, the company isn’t opposed to any controversy. Furthermore, they faced a 90% crash in their stock value between the years 2013 and 2017. Selling supplements like Kratom would surely help it regain its revenues!
Unfortunately, the brand’s decision to detain Kratom stocks is based on the FDA’s partial interpretation of ‘Mitragyna speciosa.’ Regardless of federal laws permitting the selling and purchasing of Kratom, credit card companies have banned processing payments involving Kratom transactions terming it as a risky business. Regardless of the brand’s reputation, many companies will also block an account if they notice any transaction, making it difficult for individual stores and online vendors!
The vendor not only loses money but can no longer process credit card payments in the future! Brands like The Vitamin Shoppe cannot afford the potential risk of all their credit cards getting blocked without prior notice! To your surprise, even if their credit card processor were down for a few hours or even one day, they would lose millions of dollars! That’s a lot of bucks an average American would make in their lifetime!
2. FDA’s threat seizing shipments can affect the brand
Regardless of federal laws, another major concern revolves around the possibility of the FDA randomly seizing shipments that can threaten the brand, especially if Kratom gets caught!
The government organization has a history of seizing Kratom shipments. In one case, around 540 kilos were seized by the FDA in a brick and mortar store in Denver, US. According to local laws, Kratom is prohibited in Denver, and as a result, the shipment was detained for several months, causing an immense financial threat to the retailer. In another case, a vendor was fined $5 million!
A brand like The Vitamin Shoppe are very concerned about their reputation and steer clear to avoid any risk of getting involved in clashing with local authorities or the FDA!
3. The Vitamin Shoppe wants to avoid liability issues
Another hurdle that has refrained the brand from stocking up Kratom is the fear of liability lawsuits.
The FDA holds a history of restraining Mitragyna speciosa; numerous families have filed lawsuits against Kratom companies. Notably, many lawsuits have been filed against The Vitamin Shoppe for supplying supplements containing harmful ingredients, false product claims, and even alleged violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Time and again, numerous companies get sued, and sometimes they lose even if they’re not guilty. If The Vitamin Shoppe lost a suit involving Kratom, they would end up paying a hefty fine, and by that, we mean owing millions or even billions of dollars!!!
Despite legality or lack of evidence against Kratom, The Vitamin Shoppe won’t take any chances taking high risks at the cost of their outstanding reputation!
Where can I buy Kratom from?
Primarily, Kratom leaves are grown in the Southeast Asian region, and exported (after harvesting) to various farmers and vendors across the US. When it comes to knowing about places to grab your stuff, there are numerous options to avail. In general, you can easily find various Kratom products at:
- Online stores/vendors
- Local head shops
- Smoke shops
- Apothecaries/Marijuana dispensaries
- Gas stations
Head Shops are the largest supplier of supplements like Kratom. In addition, many vitamin stores also sell Kratom; however, it poses a lot of threats and risks. Many stores or sneaky vendors claim to be selling Kratom, but it can be expired or even fake!
However, if you ask our opinion, our vote will always go from Online Shopping! There are numerous pros and minimal cons regarding this option!
The Bottom Line
In crux, reputable vitamin/supplement brands like the Vitamin shoppe do not sell Kratom for all the valid reasons discussed above! It would be an utter nightmare to afford to take the risk of carefully regulating the products without clashing with local authorities or the FDA.
Online vendors are the most convenient, safest, and cheapest way to buy Kratom when it comes to shopping. There are over thousands of brands and vendors available for you to choose from!
If you’re a newbie or a fan of The Vitamin Company, then don’t fret over it! It offers a huge variety of products dealing with different health concerns that might be a better option for you than Kratom! It also supplies energy drinks and snacks like cookies!
Always remember to carefully research the brand’s or vendor’s reputation, third-party testing, source of Kratom, etc., to ensure that you lay your hands on something worth your effort and investment. Also, make sure to consult a physician before starting any supplement! Good luck and have fun exploring!
Kate Freeman is the wellpreneur behind Kratomguides.com, an informative blog focused on spreading the goodness of Mitragyna Speciosa. Kate supports scientific research on this natural tree “Kratom” and believes that this herb can help millions of people to live a healthier life. She works with many kratom vendors to help extend their brand influence online. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, cooking, trying new recipes, and locating reliable stores selling kratom on sale.
