Massachusetts Latest To Ban Kratom

Two weeks after I wrote about a young fella in Massachusetts addicted to the gas station Kratom, the state’s Governor announced a new policy restricting the sale of kratom across the state and new efforts to educate the public about the health risks

Kratom is widely sold in smoke shops, convenience stores, and gas stations in the powders, tablets, capsules, gummies, dissolvable strips, and other forms. My essay about a man with a red Panama cap who bought Kratom at a gas station in southeastern Massachusetts coincidentally came out 2 weeks before the announcement. Kratom products have so far been mostly unregulated and products can vary significantly in their potency and ingredients. Regular kratom use can also lead to physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms similar to opioid withdrawal, according to state officials.

Kratom is kind of stimulant to boost energy and alertness but in higher doses can be a sedative to relieve chronic pain and anxiety. Many individuals have reported benefits related to their pain and anxiety. The FDA has not, however, approved kratom for any medical use, and health organizations caution that its risks often outweigh its unproven benefits

See here for the full Massachusetts policy statement from the Governor’s office.