Gov. announces kratom sale restrictions, public education efforts

Gov. Maura Healey on Aug. 13 announced new actions to protect Massachusetts residents from unregulated kratom products, including an emergency order restricting the sale of kratom and new public education efforts about health risks and connecting people with treatment and recovery services.

Kratom is a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia, the leaves of which contain active chemical compounds that act on the brain’s opioid receptors, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.

Kratom products are widely sold in smoke shops, convenience stores and gas stations in various forms, with claims that they boost energy, relieve pain, manage mood, or help with opioid withdrawal — but they have been largely unregulated. Products can vary significantly in their potency and ingredients, according to the administration, making it difficult for consumers to know what they are purchasing or the potential health risks. Regular kratom has been associated with a range of health effects and can lead to physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms similar to opioid withdrawal.

“Customers should be able to trust that the products being sold in stores are safe,” Gov. Maura Healey said in a prepared statement. “We’re taking action to protect young people and residents, give communities the tools to get dangerous products off store shelves, and making sure anyone struggling with dependence can get the treatment and support they need.”

Massachusetts Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein has issued an emergency order temporarily placing all forms of kratom into Schedule I under Massachusetts law. The order will take effect following a 14-day notice period and remain in effect for up to one year, giving local boards of health and other municipal officials additional authority to take enforcement action against retailers selling kratom products.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health is providing information and guidance to local boards of health, health care providers and substance use treatment programs about the new restrictions, the health risks associated with kratom, and available treatment and recovery services.