Walpole Board of Health Bans Synthetic Kratom, Effective April 8

WALPOLE — April 7, 2026 — Walpole Board of Health unanimously adopted a synthetic kratom regulation effective April 8, 2026. The board voted 5-0 at its April 7 meeting to prohibit the manufacture, sale, and distribution of synthetic kratom, synthetically derived variants, and products containing elevated levels of 7-hydroxymitragynine, with enforcement authority extending to any retailer in town regardless of permit type. Health staff member Kelsey, who shepherded the regulation through months of outreach and public hearings, was credited by the chair with bringing "a great presentation" to the board; no members of the public appeared at the scheduled public hearing and no permit holders objected. The board also renewed a lifeguard variance for Swan Pond's adult upper pool 5-0 and voted 5-0 to hold just one Board of Health meeting in May — on May 12 — skipping the customary second meeting that falls on the May 19 town election day.