Tewksbury Board of Health Authorizes Kratom Regulation Drafting, Wins BEST Record Fix

PEPPERELL — May 21, 2026 — Tewksbury Board of Health votes to advance a local Kratom sales regulation and files comments in the BEST energy siting case. At its May 21 meeting, the full five-member board voted unanimously on four actions, including directing staff to circulate draft Kratom regulations from neighboring communities and identify dates for a special public meeting, the next formal step before a public hearing can be scheduled and posted with the required 14-day notice. Staff noted that roughly 20 Massachusetts communities have enacted Kratom regulations, most prohibiting sales outright, while Springfield's attempt to allow only naturally derived Kratom was ultimately abandoned because there was no reliable way to verify whether a product was natural or synthetic. The board also voted to submit written comments on groundwater, stormwater redesign, and test pit filings in the BEST siting proceeding, with a noon May 22 deadline, after celebrating a May 20 ruling by the Energy Facilities Siting Board presiding officer ordering removal of language incorrectly claiming the board had full knowledge of a March 2026 test process. Carrie Sands, who holds a master's degree from Boston University School of Public Health, was formally appointed as regional health inspector, a position funded through the Public Health Excellence grant.