Massachusetts introduced a comprehensive Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA) at the start of the year to regulate kratom within the state. The bill quickly gained momentum and underwent a recent formal hearing. Advocates hold hope that Massachusetts will become the twelfth state to pass its own version of the KCPA.

Due to the structure of the Massachusetts legislature, the bill was steered towards the Judiciary. Upon agreement from the Senate, it was sent to the joint Judiciary Committee for a public hearing. This hearing took place earlier this week, featuring witnesses who had testified in multiple states on the subject.

During the hearing, Mac Haddow, a senior policy fellow with the American Kratom Association, emphasized the importance of regulating kratom for public health due to the risk of adulterated products. On the opposing side, family members of individuals who claimed to have lost loved ones to kratom presented their testimony.

Haddow addressed the issue of kratom safety, stating that the leading risk of adverse reactions stemmed from sellers offering impure and adulterated kratom products. If the bill becomes law, manufacturing or selling such products would carry criminal penalties.

Consumer advocate and podcast host Mike Overstreet testified about kratom’s safety profile and shared personal experiences. Overstreet emphasized that codifying kratom would protect consumers from unnecessary interactions with law enforcement. He highlighted cases where individuals faced legal trouble and even loss of life due to kratom’s unclear legal status.

The Massachusetts legislative session runs until November 15. Advocates seek to capitalize on the momentum of KCPAs passed in other states. Florida recently enacted kratom protections, while Texas introduced bipartisan bills for a comprehensive KCPA. In Massachusetts, a Democrat from Boston leads the kratom regulation efforts, showcasing broad political support and the growing recognition of the need for state-level regulations.