01/07/2026 BOARD OF HEALTH Minutes (2)

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Town of Mashpee 16 Great Neck Rd North Mashpee, MA 02649 Board of Health – Public Meeting Minutes Wednesday, January 7, 2025 Waquoit Meeting Room, Mashpee Town Hall Board Members Present: Absentee Members: Additional Attendees: Ernest Virgilio, Chair Zackary Seabury, Health Agent John Livingston, Vice Chair Dennis Ring, Clerk CALL MEETING TO ORDER 4:30 Mr. Virgilio, called the meeting to order. Mr. Virgilio opens the public hearing. 1. Public Hearing to Consider the Adoption of a New Mashpee Board of Health Regulation Prohibiting the Manufacture, Sale, and Distribution of Kratom.  Mr. Virgilio closes regular session and opens public hearing to Consider the Adoption of a New Mashpee Board of Health Regulation Prohibiting the Manufacture, Sale, and Distribution of Kratom.  Health Agent Seabury explains that Kratom which includes the 7- hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), a psychoactive ingredient. The proposal is to limit the sale and distribution of Kratom or 7OH products in the Town of Mashpee. Four stores are currently selling this product, Mashpee Mart, Mashpee Mini Mart, Mashpee Shell and Mashpee Country Store. Seven other towns have banned Kratom and the state is also drafting a ban. Kratom is not FDA approved or regulated. There is no verification of the ingredients in the product. It has caused deaths and side effects. Dosing is not based of science regarding body weight/composition or gender. It can affect each person differently. The goal is to protect all residents from an unregulated product.  Mr. Virgilio comments on the lack of FDA and CDC approval.  Mr. Ring read all of the testimonials from the public. The lack of regulation and oversite of packaging outweighs any perceived medical benefits.  Mr. Livingston comments that it’s not a product that is not regulated or tested. He said he has sympathy for those in pain who use it wisely but he is in favor of the ban. The meeting is opened to public comments. 1