The Plymouth Board of Health convened on October 22, 2025, to confront a growing public health concern regarding kratom and highly addictive synthetic products like 70-hydroxymitragynine. Board Chair Barry Potvin opened the discussion by emphasizing the need for comprehensive data collection before the town takes formal action. Potvin noted, We’re just at the beginning of this process, so we haven’t made any decisions, but we need information. The board officially scheduled a public forum for November 19, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, to gather community input and expert testimony on whether to regulate or ban these substances locally. Public Health Director Karen Keane informed the board that the department is already seeing significant community engagement on the topic, stating, I have received today many emails regarding kratom.

The meeting featured emotional testimony from guest speaker Katie Marie, a nurse and advocate who shared her family's tragic history with addiction and the specific dangers of synthetic 70-hydroxymitragynine (70) products sold in gas stations. This is not like a marijuana withdrawal. This is like convulsions, vomiting, inpatient, Marie warned, highlighting that these products are often marketed as energy supplements despite being significantly more potent than morphine. Other speakers, including advocacy director John Shenholzer, urged the board to distinguish between natural leaf products and synthetic ones. Shenholzer told the board, Please get some education before you make a decision on banning them, because these other products need to be banned, but not kratom. Other advocates like Misty Brown and Heidi Sakura shared personal stories of recovery using natural leaf, with Brown asserting, Holy kratom is safe... there is absolutely no studies done on synthetic 70 products.

Following the public hearing, the board addressed several business items, including a series of grease trap and septic variance requests. Motion Made by Teri Reid to approve the variance to increase to a 2,000-gallon grease trap as recommended by the public health division for Plymouth Harborside. Motion Passed 5-0. The board also reviewed an application for Second Wind Brewing Company. Motion Made by Teri Reid to recommend approval for a grease trap variance for the bar sink and bar dishwasher as recommended by the public health division. Motion Passed 5-0. During a discussion on a septic system upgrade at 26 Boot Pond Road, Teri Reid raised concerns about local water safety, asking, Do you have any well water testing to make sure the well water is potable? Motion Made by Teri Reid to approve the recommendation for the variances as recommended by the public health division for 26 Boot Pond Road. Motion Passed 5-0.

Regarding administrative matters, Lorenzo Pizarro detailed the upcoming meeting schedule to ensure maximum transparency and quorum. Pizarro explained, We are going to have a meeting on the 10th from 5 to 7 virtual, and then we will have a meeting on the 19th one hour and then a forum on kratom that will be two hours. Amy Palmer, who participated remotely, expressed her support for the evening's intense focus on community safety, stating, This is such a powerful presentation. I really appreciate everything you’ve been talking about. Finally, Motion Made by Teri Reid to approve the recommendation of the septic variance for 25 Center Hill Road from the public health division. Motion Passed 5-0. The meeting concluded with a reminder that the town is entering budget season with a mandate for level-funded department requests.