Kratom vs. CBD: How Do They Measure Up Against One Another?

A lot of people are discovering natural solutions to their daily needs, as the U.S. market has finally started embracing the gifts of mother nature, rich in potential benefits and other positive effects. Two of the most popular products you can buy right now are kratom and CBD (cannabidiol), both of which come from plants, and offer lots of distinctive properties that have been proven time and time again to be every bit deserving of the hype.

Today, for the sake of clarity, we want to compare the two in order to help you understand what each one is capable of, as well as important information about the laws in each state as well as possible side effects. Hopefully, you’ll walk away having a good idea of which one is right for you, should you be seeking natural relief.

Contender #1: Kratom

Kratom refers to the dried and ground leaves of the Mitragyna speciosa tree which grows in Southeast Asia, and is an evergreen tree related to coffee. The leaves of the tree contain a variety of alkaloids that contain properties which can change how we feel, both mentally and physically. When we consume kratom, these alkaloids interact with opioid receptors, which are responsible for things like pain, mood, and more.

You can buy kratom in plenty of strains, according to the specific cultivar of the tree, which can vary from one region of Southeast Asia to the next. It also comes in a few veins, referencing the color of the leaf’s vein at the time of harvest. At different periods of maturation, the vein changes color to reflect the leaf’s age, and this color tells us how developed specific alkaloids are. Because of that, the vein of the kratom (the color) informs us of how potent the kratom is, and how strong certain effects are going to be.

Can I Get High off of Kratom?

Kratom can get you high, depending on the dosage that you take, as well as the vein and the strain, but ultimately, all kratom has the potential to be intoxicating if you consume enough of it. Again, the alkaloids in kratom interact with opioid receptors in the brain, and one thing we know is that these receptors can initiate a mind-altering response, as we’ve seen with certain opiates.

Is Kratom Legal?

According to federal law, kratom is legal, as it’s never been prohibited in the United States. However, a handful of states have banned it, and they are:

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arkansas
• Hawaii
• Indiana
• Rhode Island
• Tennessee
• Vermont
• Wisconsin

Remember though, some municipalities have banned kratom throughout the United States, despite being legal in the actual state. So, our recommendation is that you check your state laws and local laws periodically to make sure kratom is still legal where you live, as this can change at any time.

Does Kratom Have Benefits?

Keep in mind that kratom hasn’t been on the Western market for very long, and because of that, the medical community hasn’t had much time to research and study its effects. Still, enough scientific papers have been published for us to conclude that kratom has the potential to:

• Enhance energy, focus, and alertness
• Act as an anxiolytic
• Enhance mood
• Offers analgesic properties
• Improve sleep
• Decrease appetite

Does Kratom Have Side Effects?

Similar to many natural substances, kratom may produce certain side effects if it’s not taken as it’s supposed to – basically, if you don’t follow the directions on the label, if you take too much of it, or if your unique physiology simply doesn’t agree with it. These side effects can include:

• Nausea
• Drowsiness
• Impaired coordination
• Increased heartrate
• Dry mouth/thirst
• Irritability/confusion
• Potential overdose

What Kinds of Kratom Products are There?

You can buy kratom in a variety of product types, as it’s pretty easy to infuse the water-soluble kratom powder into any formula. The most popular types of kratom products you can find on the market today include:

• Kratom Powder: The dried and ground up leaves, which is the pure form of kratom. It can be added to liquids or any other kind of solution you prefer.
• Kratom Liquid Extracts: These are highly concentrated liquid kratom products that are taken like a shot to offer a fast-acting and very potent experience.
• Bottled Kratom Drinks: Bottled kratom beverages include soft drinks, sparkling water, and any other type of drink infused with kratom powder.
• Kratom Teas: Kratom tea is just kratom powder placed inside of a teabag, for an easy way to extract the alkaloids into hot water.
• Kratom Edibles: Kratom gummies and other kratom-infused edibles promote long-lasting effects that come on more gradually.
• Kratom Capsules: Taking kratom in capsule form can be convenient if you’re already used to taking supplements as part of a routine.
• Kratom Vapes: These are still quite new to the marketplace, but just like any vapes, they’re available in bottle E-Liquids to be used in compatible vape pens, as well as pre-filled cartridges that attach to any 510-threaded pen-style system and AIO (All-In-One) Disposable Vapes. Vaping kratom allows you to feel the effects within minutes, but the effects don’t last as long.
• Kratom Topicals: Kratom topicals are applied to the skin, so that the alkaloids absorb transdermally.

Contender #2: CBD

CBD have also become extremely popular in the last 10 years, ever since the hemp plant became legalized. Short for cannabidiol, CBD is the dominant compound in hemp, making up about 15%-25% of the plant’s chemical composition depending on the strain.

Like all cannabinoids, CBD gets its effects from a process in which it attaches itself to cannabinoid receptors (CB receptors) in the body, which mainly exist within the nervous system, but are found in other bodily systems as well. Cannabinoid receptors use cannabinoids to regulate processes of the body as part of the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is a system in every mammal; that’s tasked with keeping the body in homeostasis. This is why each cannabinoid can offer so many properties that can benefit us at once.

Can I Get High Off of CBD?

It turns out that CBD cannot get you high, because it doesn’t act on any cannabinoid receptors that cause intoxication – CB1 receptors that other cannabinoids like THC have an affinity for. No matter how much CBD you take, you will not get high off of it, and despite the fact that many people say that the cannabinoid has a “mellowing” effect, it’s not due to intoxication.

Is CBD Legal?

Yes, CBD is totally legal. When the 2018 Farm Bill was passed in the United States, it finally made the hemp plant legal. Under this new legislative bill, all hemp derivatives can be sold legally as their delta 9 THC content does not exceed 0.3% by dry weight. CBD and THC are two separate cannabinoids, and so CBD products are legal. And, while states have the right to ban certain cannabis-derived products, no states have restricted sales of nonintoxicating cannabinoids like CBD. This means that CBD can be purchased in all 50 states, without limitations on strength, product type, possession amount, etc.

Does CBD Have Benefits?

CBD has actually been studied for decades, as it was first discovered in the 1960s, and so we have a good amount of information about its potential benefits. Remember that these benefits come from the way in which CBD is used by the endocannabinoid system to regulate important physiological processes throughout the body. In studies, CBD has found to have the potential to:

• Reduce stress levels
• Improve mood
• Offer analgesic properties
• Offer anti-inflammatory properties
• Reduce nausea
• Increase appetite
• Aid in sleep
• Support digestive and immune function
• Offer neuroprotective properties

Does CBD Have Side Effects?

CBD is very much nontoxic to the body, so overall, cannabis is not associated with any life-threatening risks. Even in high doses, it shouldn’t cause a severe reaction. Possible side effects are generally mild, if you even experience any, and include:

• Dry eyes
• Dry mouth
• Reduction in blood pressure
• Fatigue/drowsiness
• Increased appetite

What Kinds of CBD-Infused Product Types are There?

CBD comes in a broad array of product types, such as these ones below:

• Flower: Raw hemp flower is naturally high in CBD, and it comes in lots of strain choices.
• Vapes (E-Liquids, Cartridges, and Disposable Vape Pens): Vaping CBD offers a fast-acting and potent way to get in that serving of its effects along with a nice selection of strains, all while being convenient, travel-friendly, and discreet.
• Edibles: Edibles like gummies produce long-lasting effects with a gradual onset.
• Capsules: Capsules infused with cannabinoids are great for those who already take supplements in a capsulated form and would like to add CBD to their regimen.
• Topicals: Topicals are applied to the skin, allowing the soothing CBD to infuse directly into the deep tissue of the body.
• Concentrates (aka “Dabs”): Concentrates are concentrated cannabis products that are dabbed – that is, flash-vaporized at a high temperature using a special “dabbing” device – for an ultra-powerful and fast-acting experience.
• Beverages: CBD-infused beverages offer a faster absorption than edible products, and possibly more potency due to the fact that beverages are water-soluble.
• Tinctures: CBD tinctures offer a sublingual solution that’s easy to administer, with an onset time, duration of effects, and potency that’s between edible products and inhalable products.

Kratom or CBD: Which One Will You Choose?

Both kratom and CBD can offer loads of potential uses to your daily life, and thus, can improve the way you feel both physically and mentally. The key is knowing how they differ, so you can choose which one is right for you, as well as the correct product type, strain, etc. for your needs. Now, the best way to figure out which one is best for you is ultimately to try them both. Luckily, you can check out both CBD and kratom in all kinds of exceptional products and formulations here at The Calm Leaf.