Plymouth Board of Health Delays Nicotine Pouch Vote, Pushes Toward Kratom Ban

PLYMOUTH — February 4, 2026 — Plymouth Board of Health moves toward kratom ban and defers nicotine pouch vote to February 18. Alternate member Kate Morini, RN, BSN, MSEM, reported visiting five Plymouth gas stations and finding synthetic kratom for sale at four of them, with no clerks aware of its risks, and recommended banning both kratom and its synthetic derivative 7-OH kratom outright; Amy Palmer, MPH, signaled agreement. Public comment split sharply, with Susan Eppard of Michigan testifying that her son Matthew died in 2021 from kratom toxicity and Jeffrey Willett of Kansas City — a former American Heart Association vice president currently advising PMI U.S. Services, Inc. — urging the board not to cap nicotine pouch concentrations at 6 milligrams, arguing higher concentrations help adult smokers quit. State Epidemiologist Dr. Catherine "Katie" Brown briefed the board on One Health and avian influenza, noting 71 human H5N1 cases nationwide with two deaths, both in individuals with pre-existing conditions. Public Health Director Karen Keane announced the promotion of Margaret Coe to Assistant Health Director and said the board's open seat goes before the Select Board on February 24.