REVERE KRATOM BAN: BOARD OF HEALTH HEARING THIS THURSDAY — SHOW UP AND BE HEARD

The Revere Board of Health is holding a public hearing this Thursday, May 28 at 6:00 PM on a proposed regulation that would ban the sale of all kratom products in the city. This hearing is open to the public — and attending in person is the most powerful action advocates can take right now. Here's what the proposal would do, why targeted regulation is the right answer, and exactly how to make your voice heard before Thursday.

Take Action Now

There are multiple ways to make your voice heard. Attending in person is the most impactful.

• 📅 Thursday, May 28 at 6:00 PM

• 📍 City Council Chambers, Revere City Hall, 281 Broadway, Revere, MA 02127

• 🔗 Hearing info: revere.org/departments/public-health-division/board-of-health

Can't Attend? Take Action From Home

• 📞 Call the Public Health Department: (781) 485-8486 — Monday through Thursday 8:15 AM to 5:00 PM, Friday 8:15 AM to 12:15 PM

• 📍 In person: City Hall, 281 Broadway, Basement, Revere, MA 02151

• 📧 Email Director Lauren Buck directly: visit revere.org/departments/public-health-division and click "Send an Email" in the contact section

Contact the Full City Council — Call and Email Individually

President and Vice President

• Anthony T. Zambuto, City Council President — (617) 680-4062 | Email Anthony T. Zambuto

• Angela Guarino-Sawaya, Vice President / Ward 5 — (781) 588-0103 | Email Angela Guarino-Sawaya

Councillors At Large

• Michelle Kelley — (781) 226-4404 | Email Michelle Kelley

• Robert J. Haas, III — (617) 957-4555 | Email Robert J. Haas III

• Joanne McKenna — (617) 697-7596 | Email Joanne McKenna

• Marc Silvestri — (857) 383-9721 | Email Marc Silvestri

Ward Councillors

• Jim Mercurio, Ward 1 — (781) 629-2047 | Email Jim Mercurio

• Ira Novoselsky, Ward 2 — (781) 289-7031 | Email Ira Novoselsky

• Anthony Cogliandro, Ward 3 — (781) 629-9692 | Email Anthony Cogliandro

• Paul Argenzio, Ward 4 — (617) 697-9634 | Email Paul Argenzio

• Chris Giannino, Ward 6 — (781) 584-2307 | Email Chris Giannino

What to Say

Write and speak in your own words. Share your personal story — it is what local board members remember most. Make these points:

• You are opposing the proposed regulation banning kratom in Revere

• It fails to distinguish between natural botanical kratom leaf, which has a long history of safe use, and dangerous, highly concentrated synthetic compounds like 7-OH

• The board's concerns about unregulated synthetics and age verification are valid — but the answer is targeted regulation, not a blanket ban that criminalizes responsible adults

• If kratom has supported your wellness, share your personal story — local board members respond to real constituents

What the Proposed Regulation Would Do

The Revere Board of Health is considering a regulation that would ban the sale of all kratom products in the city. If adopted, this would mean:

• Total retail ban — all kratom products removed from every store in Revere, including smoke shops, convenience stores, and gas stations

• No distinction made between natural kratom leaf and dangerous synthetic 7-OH concentrates — both would be treated the same despite being fundamentally different products

• No consumer protections — no age restrictions enforced through regulation, no lab testing standards, no labeling requirements. Just prohibition

• Loss of regulated access — responsible consumers who currently purchase lab-tested, unadulterated kratom products would be pushed toward unregulated sources

• Precedent for neighboring cities — as the first or one of the first Revere actions on kratom, this could influence how other Massachusetts municipalities approach the question

The board's stated concerns — unregulated synthetics and lack of age verification — are legitimate. These are exactly the concerns that responsible kratom advocates have been addressing for years through the Kratom Consumer Protection Act. But a blanket ban does not solve those problems. It eliminates access to regulated, lab-tested natural kratom products while doing nothing to address the unregulated black market that fills the void when responsible access is removed.

The FDA has drawn a clear line between natural kratom and synthetic 7-OH products, identifying enhanced 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) concentrates as the real concern, not natural kratom leaf. The AHPA has similarly warned against conflating 7-OH with natural kratom. As research discussed on the Huberman Lab podcast and confirmed by an FDA study makes clear, these are fundamentally different products. A blanket ban ignores all of that and punishes the wrong people.

The Right Path Forward

The Kratom Consumer Protection Act, adopted in 18 states, directly addresses the Revere Board of Health's concerns — without a blanket ban. It establishes:

• Age restrictions that keep kratom out of the hands of minors

• Lab testing requirements that ensure products are free from dangerous adulterants and elevated 7-OH levels

• Clear labeling standards so consumers know exactly what they are purchasing

• Strict limits on synthetic alkaloids including 7-OH concentrates

That is the standard Revere should be working toward. Targeted regulation protects consumers. A blanket ban criminalizes them.

The Bigger Picture

Massachusetts is at a crossroads on kratom. Municipalities across the state including Lowell, Amherst, and Brockton have pursued local bans while the state Legislature debates two very different paths: a total ban or smart regulation. Revere has an opportunity to set a different example. States and localities that have chosen regulation over prohibition have consistently produced better outcomes for consumers and public health alike.

Show up Thursday at 6:00 PM. Call (781) 485-8486 if you cannot attend. Email the board and contact your council member through revere.org/elected-officials/city-council. For the latest on kratom legality in Massachusetts and other states, visit our kratom legality map.

The hearing is Thursday. There is no time to wait.