LCK

Why You Shouldn’t Buy Cheap Kratom (And How Regulation Could Help)

April 24, 2019 by LCK

In the eyes of the FDA and other parts of the government, Kratom is a dangerous substance. For consumers who have found a place for Kratom in their lives, it’s a life-saver.

But in the eyes of disreputable sellers, Kratom is nothing more than a great way to cut a huge profit margin! The problem with these sellers getting worse every year. As Kratom becomes more popular, more sellers are releasing untested and dangerous products.

Everybody loves a good deal, but when you find a Kratom seller that is consistently priced far below market value, you would be right to be suspicious.

Cheap Kratom Means Cutting Costs

Every reputable business, like ours here at Left Coast Kratom, is able to cut costs from time to time. We do our best to balance our desire to turn a profit (we are a business after all!) with the desire to keep our prices fair for our customers.

Even if we didn’t want to make any profit, however, there is a limit to how low we could make our prices while still providing quality Kratom.

Daily, however, we see dishonest Kratom sites selling at prices lower than we find to be possible. Just how is it that these sites are getting their prices so low?

There are three main ways that we believe these sites are able to keep operating.

Not Employing Qualified Staff

Kratom is a specialized substance that has very real effects on your body. To ensure that the best products are sourced, the information on the website is correct, and the customer service to help you get the right Kratom are up to par, it’s necessary for companies to invest in qualified staff.

Here at Left Coast, we’re very proud of the team that we have put together to keep this site running and to keep our priority, customers like you, happy throughout their entire purchase process.

Not Hiring QA Staff

Another type of staffing that is very important is what we call QA staff. QA, short of quality assurance, is an essential part of the Kratom staffing we think that every company should have.

These staff members are responsible for ensuring the Kratom is inspected, tested, and packaged in ways that will keep it safe and secure for our customers. Many sites that sell Kratom for very cheap cut QA staff out altogether.

Because there are no formal rules about requiring QA staff to be able to sell Kratom, they can easily do this to increase their profit margin.

Limited (If Any) Testing

Finally, we’ve come to the most important thing: testing.

Testing Kratom is an essential step in the sales process. Without the right tests, consumers might receive products that have been contaminated with pathogens or heavy metals that will ultimately cause damage to your body.

We don’t believe in or agree with selling untested products.

There are many parts of the supply chain that need to happen to ensure that only safe products ever make it into customers’ hands:

• Quality checking at the supplier’s warehouses
• Product testing for any type of contamination
• Sanitation procedures
• Quality control tests

Keeping all of these tests going can be expensive, but we know how important it is to be sure that our product is as safe as possible.

How Can We Fight Back Against Cheap Kratom?

As we said before, we know that everyone loves a good bargain, but getting your supply of Kratom for a great price and buying cheap, untested Kratom are two very different things.

In fact, cheap Kratom saturating the market actually makes the case for the legalization and regulation of Kratom even harder. These substances help to build on the bad public perception that Kratom already has because they are untested and unpredictable.

With those types of cheap products representing all that Kratom can be, what else would we expect to see happening?

For that reason, it’s incredibly important that we take steps to fight back again cheap Kratom. And there are a few ways that you can help do just that!

Check For Testing

Before you buy from any Kratom vendor, make sure that you look on their website for any information that they have about testing.

At Left Coast Kratom, we test every lot of Kratom that we sell. When you receive our product, you’ll be able to see which lot number the Kratom is part of, and this will let you know where it fell into line when it came to quality control checks.

Only buying from vendors that support and follow through with lab testing their Kratom is essential for Kratom customers. By doing this, you’re showing the market that there is a desire for safety checks, and that will help to weed out cheap kratom vendors.

Support The AKA Good Manufacturing Practices Standards

Another thing that you can do is to only buy from vendors who become certified by the American Kratom Association for following GMP standards.

GMP standards, also known as Good Manufacturing Practices Standards, are a set of rules and regulations that vendors must prove that they can follow accurately in order to become certified. This certification lets the world know that the vendor is committed to creating and selling safe products.

If your favorite vendor is not yet part of this program, contact them and let them know that it would mean a lot to you as a customer if they took the time and energy to become certified. By letting consumers know about your needs, you’ll be able to help make big changes in the Kratom industry!

Signal Boost AKA’s Work

The Kratom industry would be safer if there were rules put in place by a governing body, such as the FDA, that the vendors needed to sell. At this time, however, the FDA is more interested in banning Kratom than it is investing time into these types of regulations.

AKA, the American Kratom Association, is working tirelessly to ensure that Kratom continues to be available to consumers that want to use it. This work is largely based on testing, education, and safety practices. By supporting AKA, you’ll be supporting the growth of a healthier Kratom industry.

What Kratom Companies Can’t Say (And How You Can Help Change That)

April 19, 2019 by LCK

If you’ve been a user of Kratom for some time, you’re probably familiar with the ways that Kratom companies have to be careful about what they say and do. Like many alternative brands, there are a number of restrictions that they must follow when it comes to talking about Kratom consumption and effects.

What are these regulations, and why do they affect Kratom vendors even though there aren’t any true rules in the FDA about Kratom? How do these rules work?

While we happily follow the guidance that we have been given about what is OK and helpful to say to our customers, that doesn’t mean that we think this is the best choice. In fact, we believe that some changes to this system would improve the general opinion of Kratom.

FDA Regulations: Health & Structure/Function Claims

Let’s begin by talking about the various regulations that are in place. These regulations affect any company that creates a product in the affected categories. The two many types of regulation that we need to think about today are health and structure/function claims.

Health Claims

The only claims that the FDA requires pre-approval for are health claims.

A health claim must include two specific components:

1. A substance (food or food component)
2. A disease or health-related condition

Any claim that contains both of these items can be called a health claim. If a claim does not contain both of these things, then it does not fall into the category of what needs to be regulated.

Let’s talk about an example.

A package says that eating more fruit and vegetables promotes better digestion. This would not be considered to be a health claim because there is no specific health-related condition. It also does not talk about a specific food and instead talks about a category of food. Instead, it would be considered to be dietary guidance.

Structure/Function Claims

Another type of claims that we should discuss are what we call structure/function claims. These claims talk about how a specific nutrient or ingredient affects the normal function of the body. Rather than claiming that the substance cures a disease, this type of claim instead talks about how the general well-being of the body can be improved.

For example, saying that “calcium builds strong bones” is a structure/function claim.

When adding a structure/function claim to a product in the US, the FDA does not need to regulate what it says. As long as you have substantial evidence that the claim is true, you are permitted to write about it. Then, you must notify the FDA within 30 days of marketing the product.

The final important aspect of this type of claim is that packaging must clearly indicate that the FDA did not evaluate the claims made. This disclaimer is required, or the FDA could order the product to be pulled from the shelves.

Why Kratom Vendors Can’t Use These

The problem with Kratom is that it is not FDA approved. Most vendors would say that it falls into the alternative health category, but that classification depends largely on how it is imported, sold, and marketed.

Regardless of how Kratom is categorized, Kratom vendors are not legally able to use health claims or structure/function claims.

Let’s break down why that is.

First, health claims are not valid for Kratom.

There is not yet enough evidence supported by the FDA to prove that Kratom can treat any diseases, so there are no valid health claims that can be considered FDA approved and added to Kratom marketing.

There are unreliable Kratom vendors out there who regularly break these rules. They market their product with claims that they can cure cancer or opioid addiction disorders, but these types of health claims are not legal unless regulated by the FDA.

And at this time, the FDA does not support any claims about Kratom, so we can’t say much. This issue is the same in many industries where products and substances aren’t fully vetted by the FDA. So, they cannot make particular claims.

Second, structure/function claims are also not valid for Kratom.

There is not enough substantiated evidence in the eyes of the FDA to make any type of structure base claim. While mitragynine (the main active component in many types of Kratom) has effects on the body, it does not affect the base function level of your body.

For that reason, there is a lot that we as Kratom vendors cannot say about Kratom. We cannot legally make claims about much of what Kratom can and cannot do, and it will likely be some time before Kratom studies are further substantiated.

How You Can Change The Perception of Kratom

You’ve probably realized that there isn’t a lot that we as Kratom vendors are allowed to say about one of the products that we are most proud of working on!

It is frustrating for us to not be able to share what we think this product is capable of, but we understand the need to follow appropriately outlined regulations.

This is one of the many reasons that we support the American Kratom Association’s efforts to get more clarification and guidance about what Kratom vendors can do from the FDA. Because of the lack of regulation, AKA made their own Good Manufacturing Program to help vendors keep their products legal and safe to use.

As a consumer, there are a few things that you can do to help change the tide of how people tend to think about Kratom:

• Support companies that are part of the AKA accreditation program
• Share your positive stories and testimonials
• Put pressure on the FDA and other official organizations to be more transparent
• Support scientific research about Kratom and its effects

You have the power to make changes to the way that the Kratom industry changes in the next few years; don’t waste that power!

How Product Labeling Works In The Kratom Industry

April 16, 2019 by LCK

We’ll be the first ones to understand if you say that you don’t find product labels to be a very interesting or stimulating subject. After all, what is there to say about a sticker or paper attached to the products you buy?

It might not seem like it, but product labels contain a lot of important information that you as a consumer are entitled to. Many industries – such as the food and health industries – are regulated by the FDA about what they must include on these labels.

In our industry, however, there are fewer official regulations. That leaves it up to companies like ours here at Left Coast Kratom to self regulate what is included on products labels and why. Today, we’ll explain our mentality about labels & why they matter so much – especially for Kratom products.

Labeling: Brand Distinction

First, let’s talk about why product labels are so important in our industry. The labels are first and foremost designed to attract attention and to give show off the brand’s personality.

Labels are fun! They contain imagery, colors, and information about the brand that a consumer might be interested in. While the full story might not be contained on a label, this small bit of marketing can definitely serve to give customers an idea of what to expect from the product.

Branding is important – even if you don’t always realize it!

Without branding, you wouldn’t have your favorite brand of cola or clothing. Branding helps draw distinctions between variations of similar product types, and that is just as important with Kratom as it is with anything else.

Labeling: What Should Be Included

Labels need to be about more than just the brand behind the product. In our industry, they should also include all of the vital information customers need to know.

While Kratom labels are not as officially regulated as they are in other industries at this time, we believe it’s essential for certain aspects to be included on every label. Plus, Kratom must have a proper product label.

Instructions

It’s essential for products to contain some type of instructions about what type of serving size should be used. Additionally, the product should let people know if there are any recommendations of the manufacturer that they might not be aware of.

These instructions might as simple as “take two every morning.” In other cases, they’ll be more specific with more options for you to choose from.

Cautions

Kratom labels will also include essential cautions and warnings about what you can and cannot do after you use the product.

For example, you’ve probably noticed that many substances (not just Kratom) include warnings against driving heavy machinery. These types of warnings are important not only for legal reasons but also just to keep consumers safe!

Product Specs

Another aspect that is important is the specifics of what is in the product. The ingredients (both active and inactive), serving size, and nutritional breakdown.

For some products, a nutritional breakdown does not need to be included because the item is not regulated as a food or drug. At this time, Kratom labels do not require a nutritional breakdown because Kratom products are not under the FDA’s regulation.

Legalities & Complications

Ultimately, the situation with Kratom product labeling is much more complicated!

Kratom products are resting at a strange cross-point of regulation. Regulated at the state level and not fully incorporated or acknowledged by the FDA, Kratom vendors are largely left to decide for themselves what to put on their labels.

That’s not to say the FDA doesn’t have regulations that might apply; the problem is that some people don’t yet know how to apply them because the classification of Kratom is not yet completely clear.

Is that enough?

We don’t think so, and that’s why we signed up to become part of the American Kratom Association’s GMP Standards Program.

This program was designed to help manufacturers within the industry create a safer environment with better products. Through the guidelines of GMP, Kratom vendors can ensure that they are only delivering products of the highest caliber to their customers.

GMP Label Guidelines

In regards to labeling, the program guidelines specifically specify the following suggestions for Kratom vendors and their labels:

The labels, labeling, or advertising of any kratom product should not bear any disease claims (i.e., claims regarding the treatment, cure, prevention, or mitigation of disease) or unauthorized health claims.
The labels, labeling, or advertising of any kratom product should not bear any structure/function claims.
The labels, labeling, or advertising of any kratom product should not reference any research or clinical data.
Each finished product label must include a batch or lot number.
Each finished product should be labeled to disclose the mitragynine and 7-OH

alkaloid content of the product.

Each finished product label must advise consumers to consult with a physician

for dosing information relative to alkaloid values.

No kratom products may be sold to individuals under the age of 18.
The label should bear a statement that pregnant women should not use kratom products during pregnancy.
All labels, labeling, or advertising should include the following statement: “This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or condition.”

As you can see, there are a lot of different words that Kratom vendors need to be very careful about including when they are advertising and labeling their products. Kratom is not yet approved by the government as a treatment for specific conditions, and that limits package wording in many ways.

Labeling & Customers Like You

Now that you know more about Kratom labeling, you might be left wondering what that means for customers like you. After all, you’re not the one who is writing or putting together a label!

The key thing that you need to remember is that reliable vendors will have labels that follow these guidelines. If a vendor sells you an unlabeled product without any detailed testing information, there’s a good chance that they are not being entirely honest.

Buying products that have clear and detailed product labels will help you to have a safer experience with Kratom every single time. Your body should be treated with that type of respect, so be sure to buy from brands that take the time to create informative product labels.

Choosing The Perfect Strain of Kratom For You

April 12, 2019 by LCK

Whether you’re brand new to the world of Kratom powder or you have been using the same one over and over with relative success, you might be curious about the greater options that the Kratom market has to offer.

From green veined varieties from Bali to Thai specialty extracts, there are a lot of different Kratom products on the market. Finding the one that you want to try next can be an overwhelming task, and many people keep using the same strain to avoid the difficulty altogether.

But we don’t think that’s enough.

Rather than settling for a Kratom powder that you like just okay, we believe you have the power to find a powder that fits perfectly with your preferences, tastes, and needs. Figuring out how to do that, however, can be more difficult.

Today, we’ll talk about how to find and choose the right strain of Kratom for you. Let’s get started!

Step #1: Choose The Right Supplier

The first thing that you need to do when you’re choosing new Kratom options to try is to select a high-quality supplier that is going to be honest about their products, where they come from, and how they are tested.
Of course, we have to throw in a reminder here that we consider our own company to be one of the most reliable places to buy Kratom. Our products are lab tested, and we have the utmost trust in the products that we offer for sale.

But we don’t want you to blindly trust any supplier, and the same rule goes for us as well!

Check every store’s website for information about find out how they handle the following:

• Do they lab test their products?
• Do they use clear and accurate labeling?
• Do they have a way of verifying the sourcing of their products?
• Are they available to answer your questions?

By researching these four things before you settle on which store you would like to buy from, you’ll be making a more informed decision about your Kratom vendor.

Step #2: Learn The Basics of Strains

Now that you have found a few companies that you like purchasing from, you will want to learn a bit about the basics of strains and how they differ from each other. By gaining basic knowledge about the various strains, you’ll be able to narrow down to which strains might be right for you more quickly.

Red Vein Kratom Strains

Many Kratom users find that red vein varieties are their favorites. Red strains are typically known to be the best selling. So what is it that makes these strains so popular?

These types of Kratom are mostly grown in Southeast Asia, and the reason for their popularity is likely their specific alkaloid content, i.e. the ratio of mitragynine to 7-hydroxymitragynine and other components. There a lot of different red strains, but some of the most popular types that we carry are Red Vein Kali, Red Vein Sumatra, and Red Maeng Da.

Green Vein Kratom Strains

Green vein Kratom powders are known to be more balanced, whereas reds and whites are both known for packing two different kinds of punches. Green Kratom strains are also known to be slightly less bitter than red strains, and that can make them more enjoyable to drink for some users.

Green strains tend to be a great option for those who are new to Kratom. OG Bali, our bestselling strain, is a green vein. Other popular green strain options that we sell are Super Green Malaysian and OG Bali Leaf.

White Vein Kratom Strains

Finally, let’s take a look at white vein Kratom strains. These tend to be at the opposite spectrum from red vein, harvested when the leaves are young and have not had much time to mature. White leaves are often used in Kratom powder mixes with great success. Some consumers prefer white strains used in combination with a red or green strain for the best results.

Give them a try on their own or mixed with other strains. You might start with our popular white strains, like White Borneo and White Sumatra.

Step #3: Give It a Try!

Once you’ve learned a little bit about why there are so many different names and what common terms like red vein and white vein mean, it’s time to jump in! The simple fact of the matter is that you will never find the perfect strain until you give a few different strains a try.

Try to select a sampler pack or get a few small bags of at least five different varieties. Use each for a few days and write down what you liked and what you did not like about each strain. Once you’re done with this, move on to step 4.

Step #4: Tweaking & Searching

Now that you have found out what you like and what you don’t like about five different strains of Kratom, you can find your perfect Kratom.

First, write down all of the traits like you liked about various types of Kratom. Be as specific as possible! Then, write own the things that you absolutely want to avoid.

Once you have this list of traits as well as the accompanying strains that go with them, you’ll be able to see which of the strains is closest to what you want.

Let’s say that you really enjoyed a Red Borneo strain, and you also liked a Green Thai sample. You might try mixing them together, or you could go for a different colored strains from the same region – a White Borneo or a Red Thai. By making small adjustments like this, you’ll be able to find the ultimate strain for you!

Kratom: How To Store Your Powder To Keep Fresh

April 3, 2019 by LCK

So you’ve found out that you love using Kratom. It helps make your day-to-day life better, and you’ve invested in a large stash of powder so that you can easily create your daily brew or capsules. In fact, you have a lot of different stains on hand because you like to change it up from week to week.

You have all of this Kratom at home, but do you have any idea if you are storing it correctly?

Like other botanicals, Kratom has specific conditions under which it should be stored for best results. Just like leaving milk on the counter can lead to spoiled milk, not finding the right storage method for Kratom can affect its taste and freshness.

Here’s what you need to know about Kratom storage solutions that you can use at home.

Why Does Storage Matter?

Before we get into the details of your Kratom storage, let’s talk about why you should make it a point to store things in an organized way.

The main reason is that Kratom can and will lose alkaloid content over time. If you have a lot of Kratom stains at home and leave some of them untouched for a long time, they will change in this way.

Further studies are needed to confirm how quickly this happens, but the active ingredient in Kratom, known as mitragynine, will turn into mitragynine pseudoindoxyl over time. Though it may sound similar, this alkaloid has significant differences from mitragynine, and this transformation would be apparent to you upon consumption.

Additionally, it’s just better to take good care of your Kratom! You are putting an investment into your wellbeing by buying Kratom. If you store it haphazardly, you might lose some powder, spill powder, or just generally not be able to find the strain that you are looking for on any given day.

Top Things To Avoid

When you’re storing your Kratom, these are the main things that you want to avoid to ensure that the powder’s alkaloids are not affected:

• Humidity
• Oxygen
• UV light

Each of these things can and will break down the quality of your item. When you are thinking of storage solutions, you should be making sure that your product will be exposed to as little of these three things as possible.

Storage Solutions

Now that you know more about what the risks are of your powders losing freshness over time, let’s talk about what you can do to prevent that from happening.

Daily Use Kratom

When you are using a specific Kratom powder daily, you simply need to do the following:

• Keep in a cupboard.
• Keep it in a sealed bag – and make sure it is sealed.
• Keep using it daily!

If you are using this powder daily, you’ll likely consume it all before it can degrade in quality. Keeping it sealed and in a cupboard helps to protect it from UV light and oxygen, so your Kratom will be in the best shape for you to use.

Long Term Storage

If you are the type of Kratom consumer who has many different strains at home, or if you simply have a large stash of backup Kratom, you’ll want to ensure that you’re protecting this botanical investment. Kratom that isn’t used quickly can degrade in quality; you want to prevent that from happening.

We’ll walk you through a few tips on how to smartly store extra Kratom powder.

Divide It Up

Separate larger bags of Kratom into two- to four-day supplies. If you keep it in smaller bags, it will be easier to ensure the freshness of the Kratom, and it will also be easier to grab a small amount from your storage area when you need it.

You can even choose to divvy it up in different rotations or mixes. Take into account how you usually take your Kratom, and set up the small baggies to reflect your needs so that you aren’t struggling to restock your daily supply area when needed.

Airtight Bags

It’s important that you ensure that you get all of the air out of the bag. If you plan to have a large backstock of Kratom at all times, you may even want to invest in getting a vacuum sealer to ensure that there is absolutely no air in the bag.

If you aren’t ready to do that, you can simply squeeze as much of the air as possible out of the bag before you close it up.

The more airtight your storage method is, the better chance you have of the product retaining its quality for a long time.

Light-Blocking Containers

You’ll want to store these bags of Kratom in a container that blocks light. UV light is one of the most damaging things to Kratom powder’s quality, so you should ensure that you do not have an issue with this because of how you store your Kratom.

Put It In The Right Place

Find somewhere that is cool, dry and dark to put your Kratom container. There are some users that actually store their containers in the freezer! While we aren’t sure what the effects of freezing Kratom are just yet, we know that placing your container in a cool and dry environment is essential for ensuring the longevity of the powder.

Store as Tea

If you’re a tea user, you might be able to make a large batch of tea and then freeze it in a plastic container to be thawed for later use. Kratom tea only stays fresh in the refrigerator for up to one week, but freezing can extend how long you can use the tea. This can even save you a lot of weekly prep time if you prep once every month or two instead!

Kratom Storage Matters

We hope that today’s article has helped you see just how important it is to store your Kratom properly. After all, having a quality Kratom can make a huge difference in how much you enjoy the product. We sell you the highest quality products, and we hope you’ve learned how to make sure they stay fresh!

Georgia One Step Closer to Passing Kratom Consumer Protection Act

March 29, 2019 by LCK

Great news from the American Kratom Association! The Georgia State Senate passed the Kratom Consumer Protection Act unanimously with a vote of 50-0. This follows the bill’s strong performance in Georgia’s House of Representatives, where it was approved by a margin of 164-1. The bill now goes to the Governor’s desk, where it will be signed into law.

This progress in Georgia is the direct result of concerted efforts by the American Kratom Association, along with support from kratom consumers and vendors. Once enacted, this bill will protect kratom consumers in Georgia from adulterated and misbranded products and will ensure that responsible and compliant vendors can market pure, quality kratom products.

We’re grateful to the AKA, all its supporters, and the lawmakers of Georgia who understood the benefits of this consumer protection act. Please stay informed about kratom’s status in your state and support the AKA!

LCK