: Before 2016, kratom was sold openly in "head shops" and by local online retailers. Since the ban, these physical shops have stopped stocking it to avoid criminal prosecution.
: Most people in the UK who use kratom now attempt to purchase it from vendors based in the EU (where laws vary) or Indonesia. However, because importing is illegal under the Psychoactive Substances Act, these packages are frequently seized by UK Customs.
In the UK, the "story" of buying kratom is primarily defined by its legal status. Under the , the sale, import, and export of kratom are prohibited because it is classified as a substance that produces a "psychoactive effect".
