Kratom vs. Non-Psychoactive Cannabinoids: How Do They Measure Up Against One Another?

Without a doubt, kratom is one of the most sought-after natural substances on the market right now for those who are seeking relief. And, because of its fast-growing popularity, it’s more available than ever before, both in person and online. Kratom has a number of unique properties that come from its composition of alkaloids, and its effects can help with everything from mood to physical discomfort.

Given what we know about kratom so far, we want to compare it to another popular natural substance that’s gotten loads of hype in recent years: hemp, and more specifically, the non-psychoactive cannabinoids found in the plant material, including CBD, CBG, and CBN.

Contender #1 Know 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.

Kratom comes in a wide variety of strains, referring to the specific cultivar of the tree, which can vary from one region of Southeast Asia to the next. It also comes in three 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 be intoxicating, depending on the dosage that you take, as well as the vein and the strain, but overall, all kratom has the potential to be intoxicating if you consume enough of it. Again, it works on opioid receptors, 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 has 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

In addition to that, kratom is banned in certain municipalities across 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?

Kratom is relatively new to the Western market, 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?

Kratom, like many natural substances, can cause side effects if it’s not taken as intended (in other words, 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: Non-Psychoactive Cannabinoids

Non-psychoactive cannabinoids have also become extremely popular in the last 10 years, ever since the legalization of the hemp plant – more on that in a bit here. The hemp plant contains over 100 unique cannabinoids in its flowers, and we know of multiple cannabinoids that don’t get you high. Those include CBD (cannabidiol), CBG (cannabigerol), and CBN (cannabinol).

All cannabinoids, including these and ones that do intoxicate, attach themselves 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 Non-Psychoactive Cannabinoids?

Of course, non-psychoactive cannabinoids cannot get you high, because they don’t act on the same cannabinoid receptors in the nervous system as, say, THC. People do describe certain changes when they take these cannabinoids – for instance, CBD can potentially mellow away stress – but that’s not due to intoxication. Instead, it’s because the cannabinoid gets its anxiolytic potential from its influence on CB1 receptors that regulate our stress response.

Are Non-Psychoactive Cannabinoids Legal?

Yes, nonintoxicating cannabinoids are legal. When the 2018 Farm Bill was passed in the United States, it finally legalizes the hemp plant. Under this new piece of legislation, all hemp derivatives can be sold legally, assuming they contain no more than 0.3% delta 9 THC by dry weight. CBD, CBN, CBG, and other nonintoxicating cannabinoids are different from delta 9 THC, and so they can be sold without any restrictions.

Plus, while states have the right to ban certain cannabis-derived products, no states have restricted sales of nonintoxicating cannabinoids in any way. This means that these cannabinoids are, in fact, legal in all 50 states, without limitations on strength, product type, possession amount, etc.

Do Non-Psychoactive Cannabinoids Have Benefits?

For decades, these cannabinoids have been studied by medical researchers for their potential benefits, which again come through their interaction with the cannabinoid receptors in the body which regulate important physiological processes. With that being said, cannabinoids like CBD, CBG, and CBN have been found to potentially:

• 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

Now, keep in mind that each cannabinoid has unique affinities for specific cannabinoid receptors, and so each individual cannabinoid has its own dominant effects. For example, CBN is commonly used for sleep, while CBG is often taken by those who are experiencing inflammation.

Do Non-Psychoactive Cannabinoids Have Side Effects?

Cannabinoids are strictly nontoxic to the human body, so overall, cannabis is not associated with any life-threatening risks. And, because these cannabinoids we’re discussing today aren’t intoxicating, you don’t have to worry about getting too high, either. Side effects are generally mild, and include:

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

What Kinds of Non-Psychoactive Cannabinoid-Based Product Types are There?

Cannabinoids can be found in all kinds of product types, including:

• Flower: Raw hemp flower is naturally high in CBD, and it can be infused with cannabinoid distillates to yield higher amounts of certain cannabinoids like CBN, etc., while coming in lots of strain choices.
• Vapes (Bottled E-Liquids, Cartridges, and AIO Disposable Vape Pens): Vaping cannabinoids offers a fast-acting and potent way to get in that serving of CBD, CBG, or CBN, along with a nice selection of strains, all while being convenient, travel-friendly, and discreet.
• Edibles: Edibles like gummies, candies and even baked goods produce long-lasting effects with a gradual onset.
• Capsules: Capsules infused with cannabinoids are ideal for those who already take supplements in a capsulated form, and simply would like to add cannabinoids to their regimen.
• Topicals: Topicals are applied to the skin, allowing cannabinoids 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: Cannabinoid-infused beverages offer a faster absorption than edible products, and possibly more potency due to the fact that beverages are water-soluble.
• Tinctures: Cannabinoid 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 and Non-Psychoactive Cannabinoids: Which Choice is Right for You?

As you can see, both kratom and nonintoxicating cannabinoids such as CBD, CBG, and CBN could help promote feelings of ease, blissfulness and euphoria. But, these effects are obtained through different mechanisms in the body – again, kratom works mainly on opioid receptors, while cannabinoids solely derive their effects through their relationship to the body’s endocannabinoid system, which kratom bypasses entirely.

Essentially, both of these products can provide all kinds of desirable effects that can benefit how you feel both physically and mentally. The key is choosing which option makes sense for you by both your needs and preferences – and, of course, by weighing potential side effects of each one. Good news is, you can ultimately experiment with both kratom and cannabinoids by checking out The Calm Leaf’s selection of products today!