It’s a coffee plant that contains Mitragynine & 7-Hydroxymitragynine instead of Caffeine. I think you should be able to take Kratom recreationally free of stigma just as you would drinking coffee from Starbucks or tea from Teavana. Be prepared for a really bitter taste. Like green tea and crushed up Tylenol. High alkaloid content. You get used to it, though. You have to learn to toss and wash with juice or get capsules. Never buy pre-encapsulated Kratom, get powdered leaf and encapsulate your own if you must.
Laborers/Coolies in Thailand use Kratom to help them get through the rigors and monotony of their jobs on the docks.
I recommend Red Veins for calming effects, Greens for mood lift and slight energy. Whites can be really stimulating, like cocaine-stimulating. But it’s 100% safe. I prefer Red Bali for pain and sleep.