Westford Board of Health Bans Kratom Sales and Production Starting April 1

WESTFORD — March 9, 2026 — Westford Board of Health unanimously bans kratom effective April 1, covering both natural and synthetic products. The four-member board voted 4-0 Monday night to adopt a regulation prohibiting the sale, distribution, and production of kratom and novel unregulated intoxicating products within town limits, with an effective date of April 1, 2026. Health Director Rae Dick said the department has already visited stores holding tobacco permits and found kratom on sale, including at an adult smoke shop, and plans to send formal notice letters to retailers and launch a public education campaign before the deadline. The board added language explicitly banning production after Chair Stephanie Granger flagged the gap, and restructured the regulation's "whereas" explanatory clauses to appear at the front of the document rather than as an appendix. Four public commenters — two from out of state — spoke on the regulation, with opponents urging a narrower ban targeting only synthetic derivatives; one commenter, Dan Gibbs of Columbus, Ohio, said a child of his died from natural-leaf kratom and commended the board for enacting a full ban. The meeting also marked the final board appearance of member Michele Pitoniak-Crawford, who served 15 and a half years on the board.