Kratom, a drug derived from the leaves of a tree that’s part of the coffee family, has long been used in traditional medicine. It’s now used to curb chronic pain and symptoms of opium withdrawal when taken either as a pill or brewed like tea. It was included in a 2016 law banning novel psychoactive and synthetic drugs in San Diego, and its legality also varies from state to state. Now local kratom aficionados have another option—just a few miles south.
Andrew Bumble opened Bumble Bee Botanicals in Chula Vista in June. “I think adults should have this available to them, as an option to improve their quality of life,” he says. Kratom is not without its risks—the legal disclaimer on its packaging even reads “Not intended for human consumption.” It’s mildly addictive, comparable to caffeine, but Bumble contends that the benefits outweigh the risks. “If you believe in harm reduction, you should be very
pro-kratom.”
