Beverly is gearing up to pull a broad lineup of hemp- and plant-derived intoxicants off store shelves after the summer, according to a city advisory and a draft Board of Health regulation. If adopted, the rule would make it illegal to manufacture, distribute, sell or offer for sale synthetically derived cannabinoids and kratom within city limits. Officials have warned that enforcement is expected to begin after Sept. 1, 2026.
What the draft would ban
The draft circulated in late June targets the manufacture, distribution and sale of "synthetically derived cannabinoids," calling out delta-8 and delta-10 by name, along with both natural-leaf kratom and synthetically derived kratom. It also creates a catchall category of "unregulated novel intoxicating products" meant to cover newer lab-made compounds that tend to appear in convenience stores, vape shops or online.
Notably, the proposal carves out an exemption for cannabis products sold through Massachusetts state-licensed medical and adult-use dispensaries, according to the draft text posted by the City of Beverly.
Penalties and enforcement
The draft regulation leans on civil penalties and permit sanctions that fall squarely on retail permit holders. A first violation would carry a $1,000 fine, with steeper consequences for repeat offenses that include permit suspensions and potential revocation.
According to the draft, "Every day that a violation exists shall be deemed to be a separate offense," which means a lingering shelf of products could add up quickly. The Board of Health would be able to suspend permits for seven or 30 consecutive business days after additional violations. The document also allows immediate suspensions if a retailer refuses to cooperate with inspections, and it gives the Board authority to seek permanent revocation after multiple violations, per the City of Beverly.
City advisory and timing
The proposal appears on the City of Beverly sanitary codes page, where the draft language is posted for public review. In a Facebook advisory, the Beverly Police Department told residents and retailers that "after the 1st of September" these products would be prohibited in the city, signaling that local enforcement is coming.
City officials and regional boards are meeting in the coming weeks and taking public comment before any final vote. The regulation will not be locked in until the Board of Health completes its hearing and deliberation process.
Part of a statewide push
Communities across Massachusetts have been rolling out local bans and restrictions on delta-8, delta-10 and kratom in recent years, citing health risks and uncertainty around unregulated products. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has pointed to Belchertown's policy work as one example of a town-level effort to limit access to these substances, according to the CDC.
Cape Cod news outlets have reported similar crackdowns on the Outer Cape and in nearby communities, and state and local records indicate Beverly's draft falls in line with that wider pattern of cities and towns trying to get a handle on laboratory-derived cannabinoids and concentrated kratom products, as reported by CapeCod.com.
Retailers' questions and next steps
At recent board meetings, health officials and tobacco-control partners raised practical worries about how to enforce any rule that tries to split hairs between "natural" and "synthetic" products. One official pointed out that packaging and labeling can be so inconsistent that it is "very difficult to identify what is natural and what is synthetic" on sight.
Some public-health staff have argued that a straightforward local ban is easier to police than a complicated set of labeling and ingredient rules. On the other side, some retailers warn that pulling these products from local shelves will simply push customers to buy online or drive to other towns. For now, local boards are taking written comments and plan to hold public hearings before any regulation is finalized, according to meeting records.
What comes next
The Board of Health is accepting public input and will schedule hearings and formal votes before setting a final effective date. Under the draft, anyone who receives a notice of violation would have seven days to request a hearing.
City-permitted retailers are being urged to read the proposal carefully and be ready to remove any covered products if the rule is ultimately approved. For the full draft text and updates on hearing and meeting dates, visit the City of Beverly sanitary codes page and the Board of Health's posted materials.
