Public Safety & Criminal Justice on March 9, 2026

The Boston City Council Committee on Public Health, Homelessness, and Recovery held a hearing on March 9, 2026, to discuss the regulation and potential banning of kratom and its synthetic derivatives in the city. The meeting featured testimony from public health officials, medical experts, recovery advocates, and family members of individuals who died from kratom-related causes. Concerns were raised about the unregulated sale of kratom products in local stores, their addictive properties, health risks including liver toxicity and respiratory depression, and the difficulty in detecting kratom use in drug tests. Councilors expressed strong support for drafting an ordinance to ban kratom sales in Boston, emphasizing the need for public education, enforcement, and collaboration with state and federal agencies. The discussion also highlighted the challenges posed by smoke shops and the proliferation of new substances, underscoring the urgency of regulatory action to protect public health and safety.