information

Are you new to the world of Kratom? If so, you might be excited but also confused about the overall Kratom industry. After all, it is confusing that Kratom is a legal product that has so much stigma placed against using it. That stigma can be very intimidating as the use of Kratom can even feel taboo because of it.

For that reason, talking about Kratom with others may seem like an impossible task even if you have a strong urge to connect with the community and a desire to learn more about what Kratom has to offer.

But that impossibility is a big part of why we believe that everyone who finds Kratom to be beneficial should be talking about Kratom!

We don’t think that the precarious legal status of Kratom should take away your chance to connect with other Kratom lovers or that it should keep you from being able to talk about Kratom. Still, we know it’s not as simple as just talking about Kratom, so we’ve gathered up some of our best tips about how to talk about Kratom positively and successfully.

Why You Should Talk About Kratom

Before we get into our tips, we want to explain why we here at Left Coast Kratom believe that you should talk about Kratom. The key here is advocacy.

A big reason why there is so much stigma and fear towards the idea of Kratom is because not many people have any direct experience with Kratom or with anyone who regularly uses Kratom. Instead, any knowledge they have of the botanical is through radicalized news stories or their own assumptions.

The only way that those opinions about Kratom can begin to change to a more positive society is if people like you begin talking about Kratom! Grassroots advocacy can cause huge changes in public perception over time, so get talking!

#1: Learn Your Stuff

The first step of advocating for the power and usefulness of Kratom is to learn more about Kratom. While you have your own personal experiences to share, there are going to be questioned. To be a great advocate, you’ll need to be able to at least provide some answers to those questions!

Learn about the science of Kratom. Think about what questions you have about how Kratom affects the body, and then do the research! See what the latest science says, and question everything. As your own knowledge base expands, you’ll become a more useful resource for anyone that has questions about Kratom.

Misinformation has been a huge contributing factor in the villification of Kratom. Similar to the previous reactions to weed and CBD in this country, Kratom is being painted as something very different than it actually is.

Don’t cause more harm by being an uneducated advocate; educate yourself so that you can advocate for others!

#2: Connect People To Reliable Resources

Despite how much you know about Kratom, you won’t be able to teach people everything that there is to know about Kratom in a single conversation. It’s true that sharing your stories and information will be a great first advocacy step, but the next step is to make sure they are given the resources that they need.

Suggest that they follow up with other resources after your conversation:

• “Can I link you to a blog with great info?”
• “I’m part of a great advocacy group. I’ll invite you when I get home!”
• “Next week, I’m going to go shopping for my new Kratom at the shop a few towns over. Do you want to come along?”

Giving people the opportunity to gain more knowledge from different sources will help them to figure out what they think or feel about Kratom. When they only get knowledge from one source, they’re more likely to distrust the information. Expanding where they get their knowledge from will help them learn more successfully.

One final great resource to help them discover is AKA, the American Kratom Assocation. This organization has the most up-to-date information about Kratom laws and community issues, so helping those with a new interest in Kratom find AKA is a great thing to do.

#3: Know When It’s Time To Stop

When you’re passionate about something, it can be hard to know when to stop talking about it. You may meet a lot of people who are excited to learn about your Kratom experiences, but you may also meet those who are in no way interested to learn about Kratom.

Trying to force those people to come around to the idea of Kratom is not going to be worth your time, and it’s not a very nice thing to do. Some people will simply find the precarious legal status of Kratom and the power of its effects to be off-putting, and that’s okay.

The key thing to remember when you encounter these situations is that your goal in advocating for Kratom is not to get more people to use Kratom. The main goal is to improve the incorrect stereotype that exists about Kratom and those who use it. By trying to force your opinion on someone, you will not be creating any positive situations.

Share your ideas when relevant, and then move on in a respectful way. By acting this way, you’ll be doing more for advocacy efforts than you would be doing if you tried to force your opinion on everyone around you.

Don’t Be Afraid To Talk About It!

It can be scary to go around talking about something with such a negative stereotype against it, and the questionable legal status of Kratom being in such a precarious position doesn’t help to reinforce any positive feelings.

That being said, you don’t need to be afraid to talk about Kratom! Kratom is not illegal, and there are no laws that would prevent you from talking about Kratom even if it was! After all, free speech is allowed.

If you want to help change the tide of conversations happening about Kratom in the US, starting by being open about your Kratom experiences with friends and those who bring up alternative products in conversation.

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.

How To Talk About Kratom: 3 Essential Tips