pandemic

How COVID-19 Changed Kratom Advocacy (And What You Can Do)

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The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is changing the way that many aspects of the world work. While many industries are becoming more streamlined and continue functioning without problems, the same cannot be said about how kratom advocacy will fare as we move into the new future.

Traditionally, kratom advocacy has relied on meeting with politicians, local leaders, town hall meetings, and other types of events that aren’t happening as frequently in the current climate.

To put it bluntly, kratom advocacy has changed dramatically.

What can be done to ensure that advocacy for kratom doesn’t disintegrate during these difficult times? Today, we’ll talk about how you can continue to advocate for kratom throughout the pandemic.

Problem: False Claims About Kratom & COVD-19

One problem that could shed a negative light on the kratom industry at large as the claim that is being made by some uninformed vendors that kratom can be used to positively treat or protect against COVID-19. This claim has no basis in reality, and it should not be spread.

Misinformation such as this type of rumor can severely damage the overall credibility of kratom and what it can actually do for people. Vendors that use this type of rhetoric to try to drive sales during a pandemic are part of the problem, and it’s important to look out for this type of predatory behavior.

Additionally, the FDA has been known in the past to actively work against the kratom community. The FDA has already given a warning to some CBD vendors for false COVID-19-related claims, so it is important that kratom vendors do not attract negative attention by making such claims.

Solution: Look For Honest Vendors

Honest vendors that make sure their practices align with current and factual science will not use these types of false claims in their marketing, and they will always do their part to represent kratom in an honest way. By supporting vendors that rely on science and high-quality testing, you will be supporting the future and growth of the kratom industry.

If you buy from vendors that use underhanded tactics or spread false information about kratom, you may be accidentally contributing to the culture that will harm society’s view of kratom in the long run.

Take time to research vendors before purchasing, and try to only support vendors that use honest science. Additionally, consider reporting any vendors that you see making false COVID-19 claims to an organization like the American Kratom Association that might be able to reach out to the vendor to try to get them to change their stance. While the vendor may not be receptive to those types of changes, it is always worth the attempt.

Problem: Scientific Backlash

As fears that are rooted in the uncertainty of the current world take hold, many pseudo-science theories are becoming popular. They get spread around social media with little vetting, and many people become fearful of these unsubstantiated “facts” that they see in the latest popular image.

The problem here is that these rumors are rarely, if ever, rooted in science. As people realize this, they become more and more unlikely to believe anything they see online. Whether or not the information is factual, it’s hard to know if the anecdotal experience you read about online is true.

In the past, many kratom users would share their stories with others to explain what their experiences have been like. That form of advocacy, however, is less effective in today’s online world due to the uncertainty of information.

Solution: Know Your Facts

If you want to share your stories about kratom online as a means of advocating for its benefits, it is important that you know what the facts of kratom are and what current research says about its uses. By knowing this information, you can include important, fact-driven messages in your anecdotes as well, and that will make your overall message more reliable.

Of course, you cannot be expected to know everything that is going on in the world of kratom!  For information about the latest research and facts about kratom, check out the complete blog that we have on our Left Coast Kratom resources page.

Problem: Limited Political Meetings

Much of the advocacy that is done to improve the legal issues that surround using kratom in America are done through political meetings on the local, state, and national level. As COVID-19 has caused many social distancing measures to be put in place around the country, the opportunities for these types of political issues to be limited if not for emergency situations.

This means that the advocacy groups that have been working on the full legalization of kratom and protections for kratom users are being limited in what they can do, and it will take time for new methodologies of handling advocacy to emerge.

Solution: Support AKA & Other Advocacy Groups

Despite the holdups, advocacy groups such as the American Kratom Association are still working hard to ensure that the movement for safe and legal kratom in America does not end here. They continue to do their work as diligently as possible, and their goals for getting consumer protection laws in place are still in progress.

One great way to support kratom advocacy is to give direct monetary donations to these organizations. Alternatively, purchasing your kratom from vendors that donate to these causes is another way to provide some support.

Stick With Kratom

If 2020 has taught us anything, it is that the world is a complicated and constantly changing place. The ongoing changes are affecting the effectiveness of kratom advocacy as well, and that is something that we don’t believe we should risk. The efforts of kratom advocacy groups over the last decade have made a huge difference in how kratom is perceived in America, and we don’t want those efforts to go to waste.

Even if you aren’t prepared to get fully involved in advocacy efforts, we are committed to doing what we can to support these efforts. By supporting us here at Left Coast Kratom, we’ll pass on your support to the groups that are doing what they can to make a difference. Thank you for joining us in this mission!

Keeping Kratom: How To Support The Kratom Industry From Home

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people are staying home as much as possible, limiting their travel and shopping to as few stores as possible, and buying online whenever possible. The same can be said within the kratom industry, and many kratom lovers were already doing most of their shopping online before these changes took place.

Though the use of kratom has not changed because of the pandemic, the way that people are shopping, spending their money, and buying from small businesses has been put into a new perspective in our industry and beyond.

If you want to keep supporting the kratom industry from home, here is what you can do.

Shop Online For Easy Shopping

The easiest way to continue to support the kratom industry during this time is to keep shopping for kratom as you normally would! Though some vendors have had delays due to shipping and warehouse delays during the COVID-19 pandemic, most kratom vendors are still working hard to ensure that their customers are able to easily get the products that they want to order.

Seek Reputable Sites

As always, it is important to make sure that you are shopping from reputable vendors during this time.

In addition to the usual safety measures that need to be taken to ensure that your kratom supply is handled safely, vendors are now taking into account the safety measure necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at their offices and warehouses. Suppliers and vendors that are doing this properly are taking the well-being of their employees into concern, and that is something that is worth supporting.

Try Different Products

If you want to expand the amount of kratom that you usually buy during this time to give an extra boost to your favorite seller, one unique way to do that would be to buy a few different products than you usually try! There are a lot of different strains of kratom, and there is a good chance that you haven’t tried every kratom product that your favorite vendor carries.

It’s a great time to explore new strains and see what else you might enjoy!

Social Distancing & Kratom

If you live in an area where the guidelines for COVID-19 management have been loosened to allow for in-person shopping at your local brick-and-mortar store, you can head there to shop for kratom as well. Stores like this have lost a lot during these difficult times, and shopping from local small businesses can be a good way to support your local economy.

Should you choose to do this, however, it is important to make sure that you follow your local guidelines and the store owners’ requests as far as social distancing, cleaning, and protection measures. These measures allow for the stores to remain open during this crisis, so keep that in mind when you choose to visit a physical store.

Curbside Pickup & Other Services

If you prefer to shop for kratom in person or you simply want to be able to get your supply faster than waiting for shipping to come in from online, it might be possible to do curbside pick-up. To do this, you’ll need to find what local shops sell kratom if you aren’t already sure.

Often, CBD and smoke shops will stock kratom, so give these local stores a call and find out what type of kratom they carry. From there, see if you can place a no-contact or curbside order. Many small businesses that have limited online stores are allowing for these types of transactions to expand their business during lock down, so you should be able to find a shop that can make the necessary accommodations for you.

Once you’ve made your order, follow the store’s directions to arrive and pick up your supply. Doing this once will help you to figure out how easy it is, and then you can decide if you want to do more orders in this way in the future or not.

Constantly Evolving Situation

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a lot of change in America. Things are constantly changing based on the spread of the virus, and each area of the country has different rules and guidelines in place.

It’s impossible to give a cut-and-dry way to handle the situation. The best that we can advise is to ensure that you are following the guidance of local and state leaders as necessary while still supporting local businesses that sell kratom. The kratom industry is strong enough to survive this pandemic but only with the help of consumers like you.

Support Kratom Advocacy

The last thing that you can do to ensure that the kratom industry feels your support during the COVID-19 pandemic is to support ongoing kratom advocacy efforts.

You might be familiar with the fact that kratom is legal but not very well protected or monitored in America. This means that disreputable kratom vendors can get away with selling subpar products to consumers without their knowledge. Organizations such as the American Kratom Association have been working to protect consumers, but many of those efforts are now delayed due to pandemic.

While those organizations are going to continue their work as much as possible, they need more support now than ever before. Here are some ways that you can help ensure the future of the kratom industry is a good one:

  • Monetarily support the American Kratom Association
  • Write letters or make phone calls to your local legislatures about kratom protections
  • Support initiatives in your local and state communities that protect kratom
  • Join local kratom advocacy groups to find out what types of actions are needed nearby

Don’t Give Up On Kratom

If you’ve enjoyed kratom and feel that it improves your quality of life, the ongoing pandemic doesn’t need to take that away from you. Your usual shopping methods might need to change, but remember that there are other ways that you can gain access to kratom during this time.

Consider shopping here at Left Coast Kratom if you are looking for a reliable and reputable seller to use for your next batch of kratom. We’re happy to help you find what you’re looking for and explain anything that you might be curious about our products as well.