Driving after taking drugs or alcohol is a recipe for disaster. However, despite many referring to kratom as a drug, it isn’t one. So, can you drive on kratom? Is it safe to do so? And can you get a DUI while driving on kratom?
Let’s take a look at the most common kratom and driving questions and resolve those for you.
Is It Safe to Drive on Kratom?
Well, the answer is not as straightforward and simple as you’d probably like it to be. It depends. While in most cases, driving on kratom is safe, and many kratom users would agree, kratom is a natural substance, and it can interact differently with different bodies, making the driving experience for them different, too.
It Depends on the Vein Type
Moreover, not all kratom is the same. There are slow strains, fast strains, and moderate strains.
Red vein kratom strains like Red Bali and Red Maeng Da are slow strains. Therefore, their effects are releasing, soothing, and even sedating. So, driving on slow kratom strains may not be such a good idea. They can relax you and make you sleepy and, as a result, less attentive when driving.
Green and white vein kratom strains have energizing effects. They also help one focus. Therefore, driving on them can be no different than driving on coffee. You are going to be more alert and focused on the road.
It Depends on the Dose
If you plan to drive on kratom, make sure that you take the dose that is right for you, especially if you take green or white strains. An excessive dose of whites or greens can lead to jitters, nausea, and other kratom side effects. This can negatively affect your wellbeing and ability to concentrate and drive.
It Depends on Your Experience with Kratom
As a herbal supplement, kratom can potentially interact differently with different bodies. So, it can take time for you to discover your sweet spot and the dose that you need to take to get the results you are looking for.
So, if you are new to kratom, you may not yet know how kratom may affect you and what dose is right for you. Driving with this uncertainty can possibly lead to negative outcomes.
However, if kratom has been in your life for a while and you know exactly how it affects your body and makes you feel, you should be able to tell whether you would be able to safely drive on it or not.
If Depends on Other Substances You May Be Taking
Quite a few supplements, substances, or drugs, even as seemingly innocent as cough syrup, can impair your ability to drive. So, it may not even be kratom affecting your driving.
Make sure that you check any potential side effects of anything you may be taking. Additionally, check kratom drug interactions. Mitragyna speciosa can interact with different medications, so it would behoove you to be aware of that.
Is Driving on Kratom Legal?
Well, like many things with kratom are, it’s not that simple. Except for some states, counties, and cities, kratom is legal in most of the US. So, if kratom is legal in your state, there are no restrictions on driving after taking it.
It doesn’t automatically mean that you are OK to drive after taking Mitragyna speciosa. Make sure that you take the right strains, have the right dosage, know exactly how kratom will affect you, and that you do not have any other potentially dangerous substances in your system.
Even if kratom is legal in your location, you still risk negative consequences if you start feeling drowsy after taking slow strains if you become jittery due to a large dose in the middle of your trip.
However, if kratom is illegal where you live, that would also extend to driving on kratom, and you may face changes if kratom is found in your possession.
Can You Get a DUI if You Drive on Kratom
Once again, there is no straight answer to this. Different laws apply in different states. Nonetheless, in most locations, kratom is legal, and there is no set testing system to determine the presence of kratom as it is for alcohol and marijuana.
Some more advanced blood tests, as well as hair and nail tests, can detect kratom. However, they are not mainstream and not as common.
So, even if you get tested, kratom is not guaranteed to get identified. Nonetheless, if kratom affects your driving ability, you may not be changed for driving under kratom influence. Instead, you may still get a ticket or other charges if officers believe that you have driven recklessly or otherwise endangered other drivers.
Bottom Line
Since there are no certain laws or regulations when it comes to kratom, it comes down to your ability to identify how fit to drive after taking kratom you are. If you feel more energetic and focuses, then you may be able to safely drive.
If on the other side, you experience kratom side effects or are unfamiliar with how kratom affects you, it may be best to abstain from driving.
Last but not least, if kratom is banned where you live, we advise that you do not buy, bring, or use kratom in the first place. Even if it makes you feel better, authorities in your location have decided against the herb, and going against the law can put you and the reputation of kratom in the entire country in danger.
Do you drive on kratom? Which strains do you consider to be the most suitable for driving? How do they make you feel? Have you ever experienced any negative consequences while driving on kratom? We’d love to hear from you.
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