Pittsfield
Effective Friday 8/28/26, Massachusetts has temporarily placed Kratom into Schedule I for one year
while additional study and evaluation occur. At present, retailers may not display, sell or distribute
Kratom products in any form, but are allowed to store them out of sight for the time being. Local
Boards of Health have discretion to determine how compliance will be ensured at the municipal level.
The Berkshire District Attorney’s Office, Berkshire Public Health Alliance, and Southern Berkshire
Public Health Collaborative host a community forum on Kratom on Tuesday, September 22, 2026,
from 3:00 to 5:00 PM at the Berkshire Innovation Center (45 Woodlawn Avenue, Pittsfield).
Following a welcome from DA Shugrue, Dr. Jennifer Michaels (Medical Director, The Brien Center) will provide a “level-set” on the fundamentals of Kratom and supports available for treatment and recovery, followed by brief
presentations from DPH and the MA Association of Health Boards. This will lead into a group discussion on cross-sector collaboration to support prevention and recovery supports.