They may have wildly different histories, but for many people, kratom and weed are linked. While it is a completely separate plant from kratom, the medicinal use of marijuana is obviously of interest to the kratom community. Why? Because both are natural plants that are used to combat stress and pain in the mind and body. It is also common to combine the two together to enhance their effects and potency. Both have also been the subject of social and legal control battles. Kratom is and always has been fully legal in most of the world, while cannabis has not. Lately though, the advent of the medical marijuana movement has opened new doors for alternative herbal remedies of all kinds.
Lately, there’s been a new addition to neighborhoods across the U.S. From Alaska to California, Michigan to Massachusetts, 20 U.S. states have made the use of medical marijuana legal, resulting in thousands of local dispensaries popping up on every corner. Once thought of an illicit party drug, weed has become more and more accepted as a legitimate medicinal therapy for a vast range of ailments.
Kratom, once the secret of a handful of Southeast Asian countries, has had a similar trajectory in recent years. While never illegal, kratom has moved from the back corner of head shops into a popular and well-loved role as a potent herbal remedy and health supplement. Today, it is considered by some to be a “legal high” while others argue staunchly against this label.
How are these twin movements connected? Kratom and weed are both part of a new wave of earth-based health consciousness. Just as natural food markets and organic produce have become ubiquitous, all-natural alternative medicines grown right from the earth have also become common. It’s funny how remedies that have been used for countless centuries can suddenly be seen as cutting edge – but this is more a mark of how our society had temporarily drifted from a natural way of life during a stampede of industrial progress. In these two remedies, we see 2 unique approaches to solving some similar challenges faced by modern humans.
For these reasons, and the extremely safe track record of both plants, many people use both as therapies for smaller imbalances, like soothing the mind after a stressful day, as well as larger conditions, like pain relief for cancer-sufferers.
Can Kratom and Weed Be Safely Combined?
Is it safe to use kratom and weed at the same time? If you have a legal prescription for medical marijuana and you are thinking of using it in conjunction with kratom, there is nothing to fear. Pharmacologically, there is no particular danger to combing the two substances. In fact, many users have reported an incredibly soothing synergy between the two. However, the strain of both products should be thoughtfully considered before trying it.
Just as there is a known divide in effects between the sativa and indica strains of marijuana, kratom also has two major types of effects – either very relaxing or very energizing. Each unique strain of kratom falls somewhere on that scale.
You should be careful if combining weed and kratom to choose strains that are harmonious to one another. The gentle lift of a White Borneo kratom, for example, would go well with the more uplifting effects thought to be caused by medical sativas. Conversely, very relaxing Red Bali kratom might make a good partner for indica strains.
Side effects solution: Many users have reported that using a small amount of medical marijuana in conjunction with kratom will absolutely erase any minor side effects that sometimes arise. These include upset stomach or light headache. In this way, weed can be a gentle additive that enhances an overall kratom experience.
There is no direct connection between marijuana legality and laws concerning kratom. No legislation that has been written about medical marijuana mentions kratom, and as far as the government is concerned, kratom and weed are two unique entities. You will not find kratom for sale in a marijuana dispensary any more than you might find weed for sale in a head shop.
There is a more general connection, though, which relates to how a culture perceives the validity of alternative medicines. Kratom is legal in most of the U.S. and the world. But there is still a stigma attached to it in some circles due to its unfair association with party drugs or “legal highs.” When a plant like marijuana starts to gain the kind of widespread acceptance we are seeing across America, it’s a good sign that attitudes are changing and the general population is more inclined to use and protect new therapies for our bodies and minds. This is great news for kratom fans, as it further solidifies our rightful place in mainstream culture, now and in the future.
While kratom and weed may be lumped together by some lawmakers or social paranoids who fear the power of any plant-based alternative remedy, they remain completely distinct and separate entities, with different chemistry, effects, and social uses. The kratom community can learn from recent gains in the medical marijuana movement, and take heart that in general, the world seems to be moving more towards an open-minded tolerance and curiosity for new ways of living. Even if, as in kratom’s case, the “new” approach has already been used safely and happily for thousands of years!