Kratom vs. HXY-9 THC: How Do They Measure Up Against One Another?

These days, the market is practically bursting at the seams with new and exciting plant derivatives promising all kinds of positive effects, from pain relief to a euphoric high. And, the market is expanding faster than ever, which means that it can be hard to keep up with which products are legit, and what each one can offer. Today, we want to compare two products you’ve likely been seeing while shopping: kratom and HXY-9 THC, in terms of what they have in common, and also, their very critical differences.

Contender #1: Kratom

Kratom is the dried and ground leaves of the evergreen Mitragyna speciosa tree, native to Southeast Asia, and a close relative of coffee. The tree’s leaves offer a fascinating variety of alkaloids known for their properties which can improve how we feel, both mentally and physically. When we take kratom, its alkaloids attach to opioid receptors, known to regulate functions like pain tolerance, emotional state, and more.

Kratom can be found in a variety of strains, which refers to the specific cultivar of the tree (which varies between different regions). It also comes in three “veins”, referring to the color of the leaf’s vein at the time of harvest. While the leaves mature, the veins change color, and this color tells us how developed specific alkaloids are. This means that color of the vein can tell us how potent the product is, and which effects are the most prominent depending on which alkaloids are most abundant at any given time during the process of the leaves maturing.

Can I Get High off of Kratom?

Kratom is ultimately an intoxicating substance, and so you can get high off of it. and how high you get will depend on the dosage, as well as the vein and the strain. Like we said, it works on opioid receptors, and when these receptors are activated, you can experience intoxication, as we’ve seen with opiates.

Is Kratom Legal?

Kratom is a federally legal substance, and it has never been illegal in the United States. However, a small number of states have banned it, and they are:

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

Another thing to be mindful of is that kratom is banned in a handful of municipalities across the United States, even in states where it’s otherwise legal. Because of that, we suggest that you check your state laws and local laws from time to time, to make sure kratom is still legal where you live, as this can change suddenly and without any real warning.

Does Kratom Have Benefits?

Kratom is still sort of new to the U.S. market, which means that medical researchers haven’t had time to research it as thoroughly as we’d like. Still, enough scientific papers have been published for us know that it can potentially:

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

Does Kratom Have Side Effects?

Like most substances, kratom can cause some side effects to occur, particularly if it’s not taken as directed on the label, if you take too much of it, or if your body just reacts to it poorly due to your unique chemistry. Side effects that get reported are:

• 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 various product forms, as it’s pretty easy to infuse the water-soluble kratom powder into any formula. Now, let’s go over the products you’re most likely to encounter:

• 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 511-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: HXY-9 THC

HXY-9 THC (9-hydroxy THC) is a byproduct compound of cannabis, produced in the body when we take THC in any form. In fact, it’s a metabolite of THC, as consuming THC means that the cannabinoid gets converted into various metabolites, including HXY-9 THC. As a metabolite, it actually absorbs faster and more efficiently than THC in its pure form.

While there isn’t really much info out there about HXY-9 THC, we do know that all cannabinoids that exist in cannabis have the distinctive ability to attach to cannabinoid receptors (CB receptors) in the body, which mainly exist within the nervous system, and other bodily systems as well. Cannabinoid receptors require cannabinoids to regulate processes of the body through the endocannabinoid system (ECS), a system that maintains homeostasis. This is why cannabinoids are associated with so many distinctive properties at the same time.

Can I Get High off of HXY-9 THC?

We don’t really know any details about HXY-9 THC – it’s just so new that there isn’t a lot of info on its effects, or what makes it distinctive. What we do know is that it has psychoactive potential, being a byproduct of THC. How high you can get from it, or what the high feels like, is something that we don’t really know just yet.

Is HXY-9 THC Legal?

The 2018 Farm Bill passed in the United States, at last, legalizing the hemp plant. Under this bill, all hemp derivatives can be sold legally as long as they contain a maximum of 0.3% delta 9 THC by dry weight. All cannabinoids except delta 9 THC are therefore legal without any real restrictions, and that includes HXY-9 THC.

Still, states have the right to outlaw specific cannabis-derived products, and some have banned all intoxicating cannabinoids. These states are:

• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Colorado
• Delaware
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Iowa
• Maryland
• Mississippi
• Montana
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New York
• North Dakota
• Oregon
• Rhode Island
• Utah
• Vermont
• Washington

Does HXY-9 THC Have Benefits?

There are no studies published yet on HXY-9 THC, because it’s such a new cannabinoid that researchers haven’t had time to really analyze it. Still, it’s ultimately a partially metabolized form of THC, and so we can guess that it shares many of the same potential benefits as delta 9. Since we know alot about the potential benefits of delta 9 THC and other cannabinoids in cannabis, we can guess that HXY-9 THC offers properties such as the ability 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 HXY-9 THC Have Side Effects?

We know that cannabis is nontoxic and has never produced life-threatening effects, and the same goes for individual cannabinoids. Still, some side effects are possible if your tolerance is low, or you take too high of a dose. And, simply getting more high than you planned for can be unpleasant. Luckily, these side effects are known to be mild and short-lived. The most common ones are:

• Dry eyes
• Dry mouth
• Reduction in blood pressure
• Fatigue/drowsiness
• Increased appetite
• Paranoia/anxiety
• General impairment
• Forgetfulness/fogginess

What Kinds of HXY-9 THC Product Types are There?

HXY-9 THC, at least for now, comes in very few options on the market, so this is what you’re likely to find for the time-being:

• Vapes (Disposables and Cartridges): Vaping HXY-9 THC offers a fast-acting and potent way to get in a nice serving of your favorite cannabinoid, 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.
• 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.

Kratom or HXY-9 THC: What’s the Right Choice For Your Goals?

Overall, kratom and HXY-9 THC have certain things in common – mainly, they both come from plants, both have the potential to produce a high, and both offer plenty of potential benefits. Of course, we know more about kratom than we do HXY-9 THC, and no matter what, it’s best to give each one a try since you’ll want to see how it interacts with your unique body. And, both kratom and HXY-9 THC products are ready for you at The Calm Leaf. We make it easy to explore kratom, HXY-9 THC, and so many other natural products, all of which are known to offer valuable properties in their own unique way. We go to great lengths to ensure that we carry strictly top-shelf kratom and hemp no matter what.