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MASAM Supports Strong Health and Safety Regulation of Kratom Products
On June 26, the Massachusetts Society of Addiction Medicine (MASAM) sent a letter to Chair Aaron Michlewitz of the House Committee on Ways and Means expressing support for H 5127. This legislation would implement new health and safety regulations for kratom products.
In the letter, MASAM noted that Massachusetts is one of 26 states that does not regulate kratom or classify it as a controlled substance. As such, the Commonwealth has a unique opportunity to enact strong regulations that protect consumer health and public safety. MASAM expressed its view that implementing strong health and safety regulation of kratom is its preferred approach to criminalizing the substance outright. Specifically, MASAM highlighted key provisions of H 5127 including its labeling requirements, limits on 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), and restrictions on the sale of kratom products to people under the age of 21 as improvements upon the status quo. MASAM also expressed concern with the unintended consequences of criminalization, such as acute withdrawal and driving people using kratom products to dangerous and illicit alternatives. MASAM characterized H 5127 as a necessary fist step towards implementing strong health and safety regulations for kratom products.
