By RHEA-FRANCES TETLEY
Staff Writer
The mountain communities have many gift shops; some are souvenir shops, some are crafts shops, some have a variety of antique and new items, while others are consignment stores with a variety of items from many small businesses.
New Hope Trading Company falls under the latter, with many community members having displays offering everything from vintage and rock and roll T-shirts to rocks, soaps and jewelry, plus hot wheel cars, collectibles, cold Kava drinks and more.
New Hope Trading Company offers a variety of gifts.
Located in the Alpine Mall in Crestline for many years, they have curated a variety of items that appeal to both tourists and residents alike, with many steady customers of all ages. The store is managed by John Slovik, who knows his merchandise and enjoys having conversations about the various items. He promises, as spring approaches, that more items will be added to the current selections of items, from lapidary to antiques and music.
Next door, at New Hope Botanicals, is the retail operation for kratom, a coffee relative that whose leaves many use for an energy boost, increased focus or, in larger doses, to help with minor aches and pains. This company has operated, mostly online, for 10 years and for the past six years in the Alpine Mall location. Online, they sell T-shirts, tea, soaps, canned drinks, and extract capsules. In the past, they haven’t advertised their business, as most of their face-to-face business has been from word-of-mouth from the kratom tea they sell.
New Hope Botanicals sells kratom as a powder from the kratom leaf, which is a tree in the coffee family that grows in Indonesia. Kratom is considered by some to be controversial. It is used in making a tea to drink. It does not produce a “high,” but those who use it say it helps with their pains. At New Hope Botanicals, their kratom is sanitized and lab-tested to be sure it is free of any contamination from outside products. It is used by many as an herbal alternative to help manage pain, although the company doesn’t make any medical claims for kratom’s use, but many who use it claim it has removed their need for strong pain pills, which can be very addictive.
New Hope Botanicals owners Mike and Jordan enjoy talking to their customers to educate them on the use of kratom and the ways a person may benefit from using it. Kratom is not for everyone, and it is not a food additive nor a dietary supplement. This adults-only tea has, at times, been used by some who previously used opiates to excess and found that kratom, although it doesn’t get them high, does remove some of the cravings for those drugs. Some of those people who use it regularly do claim kratom has saved their life by allowing them to get off the opiates and allowing them a positive life-style change.
“We are not here trying to ‘sell’ kratom; we are in the service industry, providing it for those who want it and we provide clean, healthy kratom to those people,” said Mike. “Kratom is under fire from the big pharmaceutical companies, but I believe it is better than pills that represent the other drug options that are offered. It has worked for me. Some of our users say it has saved their lives, and I believe that to be true. Freshness and quality are what our customers can expect from our mitragyna speciosa, also known as kratom.”
At this time, there are an estimated 25 million daily users of kratom in the United States. It has been used in Southeast Asia for centuries as an energy boost, giving users increased focus and a general feeling of well-being.
“We know there are some who are searching for it, and we want to provide a pure product for them,” said Jordan. “Our kratom is sanitized and lab-tested before sale and is comprised of only leaf powder. Freshness and excellent quality are what you can expect from us.”
Dr. Jack Henningfield from Johns Hopkins University reported that kratom is 1,000 times safer than traditional opioids. Kratom has been commonly used in Thailand, Indonesia and Southeast Asia and not a single death had been reported in the past 200 years related to its use. The World Health Organization issued a report last year stating it was not dangerous and did not support a ban of its use. The report details its benefits and proper, safe use. The University of Florida has been given millions of dollars in grants to study its use by NIDA, where pharmacologist Dr. Christopher McCurdy has come to the conclusion that it is worthy of further study. “The DEA in 2016 refused the FDA’s recommendation to schedule kratom. NIDA research also shows that kratom offers real potential to replace more dangerous options like opioids for acute and chronic pain,” says the report.
Mike spoke with Georgia Congressman Vernon Jones who shared his support for kratom leaf and its use by those who need it, which supports Mike in his belief that this product can be used safely by those who need it. “I believe in the future that support may come, creating the regulatory support and congressional laws we need to keep kratom safe and pure.”
Kratom is not currently regulated in California, but New Hope Botanicals only uses clean, pure kratom that has been quality tested. Mike wants anyone who wishes to know more about kratom to call them at (888) 623-6432 or come to the shop at 23928 Lake Drive, unit 104B, in the Alpine Mall in Crestline.
The store’s website is www.newhopebotanicals.com for online ordering. Their store hours are 10 a.m. to 5p.m., Monday thru Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.
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