Council Weighs Ban on Synthetic Kratom, 7-OH

City Council 2026-09-21 1400 · Meeting of September 21, 2026

Boston Council hears hours of dueling testimony on a synthetic kratom ban. Docket 1414, sponsored by Councilors John FitzGerald and Edward M. Flynn and chaired by Councilor Gabriela Coletta Zapata, would ban 7-hydroxymitragynine and other synthetic derivatives while allowing regulated natural kratom leaf sales to adults 21 and older.

Boston Public Health Commission Deputy Commissioner PJ McCann testified that the state's one-year emergency order, issued around Aug. 27, classifies all kratom as Schedule I until August 2027. "Please listen to the people who are suffering. I'm telling you, kratom helps them," said public commenter Ashley Davidson, one of dozens who credited natural kratom with treating addiction or chronic pain.

Susan Eppard and Holly Truval, both of whom said their sons died from natural, non-synthetic kratom, pushed instead for a complete ban. No vote was taken; councilors plan a working session to draft language with an effective date tied to the state order's expiration.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 2,783 words

Source: the City Council 2026-09-21 1400 meeting of September 21, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.