The DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) in 2016 intended to classify kratom as a Schedule I drug and put it into the category with other dangerous opioids like LDS, heroin, cocaine, etc. But quickly withdrew their claim in response to a major backlash from the public in the same year. Their withdrawal statement says that they are doing research to find more information on kratom.

The nation seems to be split down the middle on this issue. Some of them who have used it swear by its beneficial health properties while just as many want kratom banned due to its opioid like nature and the possible side effects due to overdose - the facts of both pros and cons are debatable unless more research is done.

The State of Massachusetts seems to be doing little to augment the claims of either of these parties. Many other states have either approved its usage while some have banned it till further research is done but Massachusetts has done neither of these two. So, kratom in the absence of any legal papers on the issue seems to be in that grey area where it can be used, possessed, sold, etc. to the public if you are over 18 years of age.

There are also no bills that are currently waiting to be passed and the public is free to use kratom in the near and foreseeable future. It is also legal to farm, distribute and process the product in Massachusetts. However, the quality of kratom products is not controlled by either the federal or state government and is a point of concern.

The FDA however in 2018 almost banned kratom after many batches of it from a few of the vendors were found to be contaminated with Salmonella and resulted in multi state infections. They have since advised consumers of kratom to avoid all such products.

The CDC (The Center for Disease Control and Prevention) also reported in 2019 of 15 deaths that happened from 2014 to 2016 that involved the use of kratom though with other substances. So, again these cases were not due to only kratom and so again these cases do not prove with incriminating evidence that kratom is the culprit.

The DEA is mostly concentrating on the deaths related to kratom and is searching for reasons where they can scientifically prove that it has no medicinal value and has a high potential for abuse. But as research is still ongoing since 2016 and there have been no moves from them to reclassify kratom, it seems fair to say that they shall soon permit it on the federal level.