Looks like I can buy sassafras root already cut and dried.
Pros: Will save me time measured in years
Cons: It's from etsy. Not sure what I am actually getting.
That it is legal to buy it at all is somewhat encouraging. I guess you just can't use it to make food or sell food with it as an ingredient.
I've seen a video by someone who made their own root beer with the actual root. Looks easy enough - or at least something that can easily tuned as more is made. Won't really be a "vintage" element to it though. (shrugging emoji here)