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Yarmouth Board of Health to continue review of proposed kratom restrictions after public testimony
Summary
The Board reviewed a draft kratom regulation and, after hearing testimony from store owners, advocates and a person who said kratom aided recovery, voted to continue review and gather more information before taking regulatory action.
The Town of Yarmouth Board of Health met Jan. 5 and agreed to continue reviewing a draft regulation that would restrict the manufacture, sale and distribution of kratom products, after several members and outside speakers outlined safety concerns and offered additional information for the board to consider.
The board did not adopt any regulation at the meeting. Board member Mary Craig moved to continue the discussion and review additional materials; the motion was approved with no regulatory action taken, and the board said it will revisit the issue at a future meeting.
The draft regulation under review was prepared by Hillard Boskey and would cover both synthetic and naturally derived kratom products. Laurance Venezia, DVM, a board member who speaks in the transcript as “Larry,” summarized research he said shows higher kratom doses can produce opioid‑like effects and lower doses can have stimulant effects; he also noted federal agency guidance, citing an FDA statement and a 2020 DEA kratom fact sheet. "At higher doses kratom can result in effects like opioids and at low dosage can have more of a stimulant effect," Venezia said to the board.
Several members of the public and stakeholder groups addressed the board. Retailer Vishal Shukla offered to provide product ingredient lists and lab results that he said are accessible by scanning product bar codes sold in his stores and noted some vendors publish product‑safety information online. Allison Smith (via Zoom) offered to provide a list that distinguishes natural kratom products from potentially dangerous synthetic products. John Shinholser, representing the American Veterans for Kratom Safe, urged the board to review available safety studies and industry reviews.
Lora Romney, president of the International Plant and Herbal Alliance, asked the board to review emailed educational materials, supported a 21‑and‑older sales age, proper labeling and limiting 7‑OH kratom products, and cited Rhode Island’s reversal of a total kratom ban as background for regulators. Misty Brown testified (via Zoom) that natural kratom products helped her recover from addiction.
Board members said they want more information before acting. The board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Feb. 2, 2026; no regulatory deadline or vote date was set for the kratom regulation at the Jan. 5 meeting.
