Health Director Shaun McAuliffe asked the Board of Health at its meeting Monday to review proposed regulations limiting the sale of certain THC products in Hopkinton. 

The two products impacted by the proposed regulation are kratom and synthetic cannabinoids. McAuliffe explained that both are “completely unregulated” and present a risk to consumers.

Kratom is an extract from a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia that, according to the Food and Drug Administration, consumers use as self-treatment for pain, coughing, diarrhea, anxiety, depression and opioid use/withdrawal. McAuliffe noted that traditional use of the plant is to chew the leaf, which has a “weak form” of kratom. However, the extracts have a significantly higher dose of the chemical compounds.

The product often is marketed as an energy supplement and has not been reviewed by federal regulators. The FDA states kratom has a risk of serious adverse events such as liver toxicity, seizures and substance abuse disorder.

“It’s one of these products people push into the market knowing that FDA doesn’t have the staff to do a critical review,” McAuliffe explained.

Synthetic cannabinoids also carry severe health risks, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. These often are added to vaping products and sometimes provide a cheaper alternative to cannabis.

“Lots of vaping products … aren’t FDA approved,” said McAuliffe. “There’s no regulation or restriction on what other products or additives can be present in these products.”

McAuliffe added that he has observed both of these products with labeling and marketing he said are geared toward children. 

To limit kratom and synthetic THC in Hopkinton, McAuliffe said he worked with other public health organizations and “came out with a simple modification” the board could insert into existing regulations.

“What that would say is that stores that have tobacco permits will be able to sell products that have been locally, statewide and federally approved,” said McAuliffe. This wording, he explained, would prevent retail stores from selling those products and would primarily impact exotic vaping instruments.

“We’re not taking anything really more away,” he added. “We’re just making sure everybody understands what the rules are.”

Under the regulation, tobacco retailers can continue to sell popular brands that are FDA approved.

Board members were amenable to reviewing the language of the amended regulation and returning for a vote at a later date. Member Malcolm Smith expressed early support for the idea.

“They’re selling them the most avoidable cause of ill health in the nation, so it’s a no-brainer in my point of view,” said Smith.

Process for complaint reviews adjusted

While reviewing the Health Department’s complaint log from 2025, members of the Board of Health discussed making such reviews a regular feature of board meetings moving forward.

Chair Nasiba Mannan advocated for moving to monthly reviews of the log, noting a desire to maintain transparency with residents. Vice chair Mary Jo Ondrechen echoed Mannan’s thoughts.

“Why can’t it be public meeting to meeting instead of just once a year?” Ondrechen asked. 

The complaint log addresses potential health code violations submitted to the Health Department by concerned individuals. The department looks into the complaints and, if necessary, takes action to resolve any violations.

Nidia LaRoche, administrator for the Health Department, explained that complaints are not publicized before being resolved to allow McAuliffe and other staff to look into the issue. 

“Until there is a resolution, we shouldn’t be bringing it to the meeting,” said LaRoche. “Once it’s resolved, Shaun can report that he took this action.”

Smith noted the potential harm in publicizing an unresolved complaint on an entity’s reputation when the claims have not yet been substantiated or resolved.

LaRoche added that complainants who leave their contact information will get a follow-up once the issue has concluded.

Members agreed to begin reviewing completed complaints on a monthly basis going forward.

Petrozzi no-shows hearing, given final extension

The Board of Health agreed to continue a hearing over a drinking well variance request after developer Lou Petrozzi of Wall Street Development Corporation failed to show at Monday’s meeting. Members warned, however, that they would not grant further extensions if Petrozzi failed to respond or appear in front of the board again.

“If he doesn’t respond to [LaRoche] again, we won’t be putting him on the agenda,” explained Mannan. LaRoche explained she had sent Petrozzi notice of the hearing on March 23 but did not receive any response.

Petrozzi was scheduled to meet with the board at the top of the meeting in regard to an ongoing well variance request he made for 12 North Mill Street. The developer has been meeting with the Board of Health and the Conservation Commission, seeking permission to fill in a portion of wetlands on the property. This would allow Petrozzi to build a drinking water well for a proposed home.

At his meeting with the board in January, members raised concerns over getting heavy equipment into the site to construct the well and long-term maintenance once the home is constructed. In the meeting records, health agent Bryan Besso stated in an email that he could not support the plan based on existing regulations and concerns raised by the Conservation Commission.