Known, among other things, as the frog capital of the world, Louisiana is nothing if not surprising. Offering an annual Frog Festival which includes races and jumping competitions (for the frogs), it is also the only state in the US which has no counties, only parishes.
Because of its low elevation, Louisiana residents who cross to the other side do so in style, thanks to the above-ground mausoleums – in fact, Nicolas Cage has already guaranteed his place of rest here with a pyramid-shaped mausoleum that he has already bought.
But is Kratom Legal Here?
You’d be forgiven for thinking that a place as quirky and colorful as Louisiana would make Kratom legal…and you’d be right! Despite many attempts to outlaw the product, at the time of writing, Kratom is still legal in Louisiana. Let’s have a look at some of the attempts mentioned:
In 2014 it was suggested that any substance containing any form of mitragynine and/or 7-hydroxymitragynine should be added to the list of controlled substances, but the suggestion gained little momentum and was eventually squashed.
However, just a year later an identical bill was proposed to the Louisiana Senate. It passed, but with all mention of Kratom excluded, rendering it still legal.
In 2018 and 2019 a new bill to study Kratom was introduced, not necessarily to ban it but to address the issues that surround an unregulated substance. In 2020, however, a bill to regulate Kratom failed to pass, meaning that Kratom remains, sadly, unregulated.
Could it Become Illegal?
In a word…yes. In 2019 a bill was passed that sought to criminalize Kratom if the DEA decided to classify any part of Kratom, either as a whole or in part, as a scheduled substance. So for the time being, it is legal but this could change if the DEA decide to make it otherwise.
Regulation
While it is a good thing that Kratom is legal, we believe (as will any reputable vendor) that regulation is an important step for the industry. For example, in 2018 there was a salmonella outbreak in Louisiana from contaminated Kratom, an outbreak that could have been avoided had the state allowed regulation to go through.
The problem with being able to buy an unregulated substance is that every Tom, Dick, or Harry can sell it, but many of these ‘convenience store’ vendors won’t take the time to ensure that their product is safe. Any reputable company will opt into 3rd party, independent lab testing; something that would have prevented the 2018 salmonella outbreak. This very expensive testing ensures there are no contaminants, including salmonella, as well as heavy metals like lead and nickel, and any vendor worth their salt will be only too pleased to provide evidence of their certification from the laboratory testing. The beauty of online sellers is that you can research them all from the comfort of your own home, and check to see if they test their products, as well as read reviews.
In addition to this, you really do need to buy from an expert if you want to get the best from your purchase, and an online, dedicated supplier will be able to guide you towards the best strain for you.
As you can see, the convenience of being able to buy from a gas station or tobacco store is a double-edged sword, and no amount of convenience can make up for sub-standard or downright dangerous altered products.