Hi everyone. Um, I'm Risha. I'm the chair of the board of health and we will open the board of health meeting on February 4th at 5:05. Thanks everyone for waiting those few minutes. Um, so I will take attendance just by noting
who is here. So I myself am here. Betsy Brooks is here, Premla Nyer is here, and Jack Gems is here. That is the entire board. So, we are all in attendance. And with that, we will jump right in uh to the agenda.
And uh the first order of business is to review the minutes from the last meeting. Um I did not see any caught my eye as needing change or comments. Did anyone else see anything?
>> I I thought that the discussion was about how Northampton decided to ban all crypto products. Um, >> was that not right? >> It says that only ban the synthetic. And I I know
that I because I listened to the their meeting in October. Um, so I I'm just confused about why it says that. Unless they've changed it, they have in fact banned all croto product
there's a it was decided in the October meeting. >> You're right. I think that's not quite an accurate portrayal of that conversation. So, the the original Board of Health of Northampton's um regulations only had synthetic and
then they changed it to it to to ban all forms. >> Y >> um and so I think that's not captured. >> Is that is that an accurate correction there? What I just said? Okay, great catch. Thank you for that.
>> Thanks Premala. That's a big oversight on our part. I just didn't read that closely. I mean, everything read well and I didn't realize that it was actually not accurate. So, something got lost in translation there with Nancy writing up the minutes from the
recording. Sorry, that needs to be changed. Well, thank you for catching that. We'll make that edit. >> Yeah, sure. >> Any other things that anyone caught? I'm going to take that as a no. So, does someone want a motion to pass uh the
minutes with that change that Primala has indicated? >> Yeah. >> All right. I'm gonna take Okay, I'm going to take Betsy as the move as the second. >> And uh all those in favor say I. And it
is unanimous. We will pass the minutes with that change. Um, just making >> Thank you, Prem. >> Sure. >> Love people with good eyes to catch those things. All right. Um, for anyone
in attendance, I just want to um be clear on our agenda in case uh you haven't seen it. It was updated. Um, so we will have a section for public comment. Now we will then go into old business which is the cratom
regulations. We have three items of new business. A well approval, a request for variance on body art regulations and a tobacco permit transfer. We'll then have a director's update if there is any topic not anticipated by the chair 48 hours prior to the meeting. And then
we'll have another public comment. Um we try to allow a public comment at the beginning and end of every meeting because we are not able to bring people in to discuss items as we are discussing them. So you have a chance to to comment
before and or after as you wish. Um so we will now open up for public com the first public comment. I always forget how long it is. Is it three minutes? Sorry, I was having trouble unmuting.
Um, it's usually three minutes. Yes. >> Okay. I don't know why that can't sit in my brain, but we um ask people to limit their comments to three minutes. We also ask that you introduce yourself, including your uh where you live, your area of residence, um, and particularly
if you are an Ammeris resident. And, uh, how we will handle this is raise your virtual hand. I see a few already have and Maheen will promote you to be able to speak and you will be on video um in
the order she sees them. >> Okay. Um I'm going to call on Juliet first. I'm going to allow you to speak. Please unmute yourself. >> Okay. Can you can see me? >> We can hear you, which is fine. We can't see you, but that's okay if if you don't
want to or if it's difficult. Um I don't is Megan's hand up because I don't want to steal all the time. Maybe you can split it. I just want to give a backdrop. We are a resident of Olympia Oaks which is right behind the massive fire uh uh burnt site. And we have been
working with uh different people, different departments like fire department, inspection services and uh Kiko herself in public health who have just put out a advisory, a health advisory that was sent to our property
management here in Olympia Oaks which will uh she said be distributed um Friday, but hopefully maybe before, God willing. And I'm here to just kind of give a backdrop because they're removing the rubble uh actively removing it since
the 23rd of January and it does kick up quite a bit of you name it. uh dust. Uh they try to mix it with snow, but we're we're the children have been standing near the bus stop, but the
uh people are working on that to see how we can protect the children like whether move the bus stop or whatever. But the need has been um great and for me it's been a a real learning experience. Um,
and I just wanted to shout out the public health advisory and the public health director, Kiko, who's here, thanking her for the her work on this. Um, because I know it's not the only thing that's around, but it's a challenge that is going to keep going forward. It doesn't disappear readily
even when the the rubble stop stops. So just wanted to that people know thinking how individuals and our communities and organizations all together can keep learning to be better equipped to respond um to any and every threat toxic you know whether it's material or
otherwise and um so that we keep asking those messy questions and um we need masks we need you the the response you know from from Kiko's been great uh we just need to keep going and I just wanted to say And if I can Megan have
time to say anything. >> We'll call on her in the order. I don't know if she's next, but yes, I do see a hand. >> Go ahead. >> Is there any Is there anything else you wanted to say, Juliet? >> Thank you. >> Okay. Thanks so much.
>> Okay, Megan Williams, I will allow you to speak. Please unmute yourself. Okay. Can you hear me? >> Yes. >> Awesome. Thanks. So, yeah, I am another resident of Olympia Oaks here in Amherst. Um, I really appreciate uh Kiko
um issuing a health advisory from the health department um at the start of the rubble. Well, um, and I guess I'm just, again, like Juliet said, I'm concerned about the air quality, especially as the kids wait for the bus in the mornings
because it's right, um, really close to the to the um, to the debris. And I'm also concerned about like leeching and groundwater contamination. Um, I'm hoping that as we move forward, the town
can be more communicative with residents um as removal continues and as it we prepare for we have that other fire, actually my old apartment building um that burned within Olympia Oaks that
will also be demolished um uh later this year as well. And so I just kind of I have to run to go pick up my kids, so I can't stay for the remainder of the meeting. But really hoping to hear more from um the health
department and the board of health and and the town about your plans to, you know, monitor air and water quality after these fires and how we can um protect other residents of the community. Yeah. So, thank you.
>> Great. Thank you very much. >> Okay, next is Laura Romney. I will allow you to speak. Please unmute yourself. >> Hi. Can you hear me? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Hi. I'm glad. Thanks for letting me speak today. Um I'm calling. I have had
some uh correspondence with Kiko. I appreciate all of the comments that she has sent over about this really important issue of in your community. I just highly recommend that you choose to regulate naturalratom and ban the synthetic pro products. I know that
you've you know mentioned Northampton a little bit. Um they originally had decided to ban synthetics and then they have then as you said tacked on the natural but a lot of these cities what they've done is they've they've felt like you know it's just a little bit too overwhelming for them to be able to you
know regulate and so therefore they've chosen to ban. But that is a really big mistake. You are you're uh you're really jeopardizing the lives and the health of a lot of people in your community. Um, one thing I want to bring up is that South Hadley just made a great decision
about two weeks ago to pass an excellent regulation where they actually regulated whole plantratom and then banned the synthetic products. So, they've put together a fantastic uh, you know, regulation there. So, there is a way to do this. I know I've been again sending
some emails to Kiko about how it's really not super complicated to discern between the good products and the bad products. And uh you know it's once once you've kind of cleaned house to a lot of your smoke shops or stores that are carrying this it won't be difficult at
all to be able to um you know maintain those standards um based on very you know simple you know looking at the backs of the packages and even keeping track of those products that are being sold in the stores. So, um, again, I just one thing
I want to say too is just last week the Trump administration again had another press conference when they unveiled their new drug policy and at the very end of it, which I can send you the the recording, they once again it reiterated what they did in July of last year that
they are going to go full force in um, scheduling 70 and synthetics and they are not they're not touching. They didn't even mention them. It's only 70 and synthetics. So again, I highly suggest that you follow along with what
the FDA and HHS are doing and responsibly regulate natural cratom and uh you know ban 70 because that's really the issue that you guys are facing as a community. um it's extremely addictive and um it's just does has no safety
record or science whereratom in general has hundreds of science um to back it and you know again I'm I'm more than happy to answer questions um I I have a lot of experience with this I educate localities all the time and so when you guys are discussing it and you're open
I'm more than happy to act as a I guess you could call me an expert in this uh field and so I'd be happy to answer any questions and hopefully clarify anything that you guys might be wondering about, but thanks for letting me speak today. >> Thank you.
>> Okay, next we have iPhone Jen. I'm going to allow you to speak. Please unmute yourself. We're not able to hear you yet. If you're speaking Looks like you're still muted. All right, we'll give a few more seconds and if not we will have to
move on. >> I'm not able to unmute you. Let me see if I can do that. It's also possible they stepped away from the computer. >> Yeah. Okay. >> All right. Mah, I think we
>> Oh, gone. >> All right. I I don't see any other hands. So, that closes the public comment. Thank you all. There's a hand right as I said that. I'm I'm willing to make an exception if
one more person wants to speak. >> Okay. Shannon Lee, I will allow you to speak. Please unmute yourself. >> Hi, how are you? Good evening. Um I'm Shannon. I'm a lifelong resident of Massachusetts. And I just wanted to say there are a lot of people um like me
right here in Mass that are terrified to know um that people will suffer in pain if natural holafie cratom is totally banned. Um it doesn't just affect our state but our whole country as a whole. Um the chronic lower back pain I've
experienced before I found Holifratom I cannot even begin to explain what I went through. Um I am a healthcare worker and I can't imagine trying to work in total agony. Please instead of banning natural holafratom please look into regulating
it. Um our neighbor actually Rhode Island banned in 2017. They did the scientific research and they reversed the ban as of April 1st, 2026. Um, the FDA also announced in their July
29th, 2025 press conference that they are not interested in scheduling. They only want to ban the synthetic 70. Um, like Laura said, South Hadley just um passed a regulation on natural leafratom. Um, and they're banning 70.
Um, and I also support the ban on 70 as well. Thank you so much. >> Thanks. And just for the record, uh, I believe you're from Somerset. Is that correct? >> I am. Yes. Somerset. >> Great. Thanks. >> Thank you.
>> Okay, we have more hands, so we'll keep going. >> Okay, Shane, I'm going to allow you to speak. Please unmute yourself. >> Hi, my name is Shane. um from Medford, Mass. I'm just uh calling to again um
um stand by whole leafratom uh and promote regulation versus synthetic. Um been a lot of bad misrepresentation aboutratom in the public eye due to the 70 um culprit. If science prevails, you
could recognize that has a history of science behind it. raw leaf cratom that is to support its safety um not only in harm reduction but also for chronic pain for others. But, you know, if you really
look at some of these folks that are supporting um the banning of specifically in the House and certain uh groups, you'll recognize that there may be um behind them,
folks who are in, you know, the state house pushing for this banning because they may be promoting um let's say other presc prescription medications to help with harm reduction such as Suboxin. And
they're claiming that this medication may be less harmful than let's say cratom which is a natural leaf product with less um adverse effects. So these are other things to consider when we hear about um those that are against
dangerous I I forget what the name of uh danger cratom against danger whatever the name of the organization is if you look behind it and follow the money you can see that there's really a lot of um state representing about um you know
prescription medication over overcoming the great morale. I thank you for your time. Thank you. All right. This time I'll pause a little longer to make sure nobody else has any further comments.
And since I see no Oh, every time. All right. One more. >> Can they make a comment twice? >> Oh, is this somebody who's already commented? >> Yeah. >> Yes, I see that. uh
on a different topic I suppose. >> So yeah, if this Juliet if this is a comment on a different topic, you can comment again now. If not, you can comment again at the end of the meeting. So keep your hand raised if this is on a
different topic. Okay. Oh, >> okay. Julia, I will allow you to speak. Please unmute yourself. Yes, sorry because I remember I didn't have my full name up. It's Juliet Carvajal
is looks like Yeah, you spelled it right. Um, so that that was my addition and I just wanted to underscore maybe I talked too fast. I don't I didn't have the transcript up that uh how we really need to work together you know from the
bottom up who are the grassroots to the town manager and beyond and u that's what I wanted to say my name basically thank you >> great thank you and there had been a hand that went down and I just want to make sure that person
didn't want to speak yet there they are again >> okay Jennifer Healey Oi to speak. Please unmute yourself. >> Can you hear me? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Okay. I was call I wanted to call and um talk and just follow up on what
everybody's been saying on. I am from eastern Massachusetts and I have watched people um go through addiction and I have seen the tremendous value that can possibly do for harm reduction going down that
road as well as I do believe that is an extremely um good plant and can be used for chronic pain patients. Right now, we're facing in the chronic pain world um not only a reduction of the ability to get our medication that we need, but
flatout discrimination against some of the medication that certain people need to just survive to get through another day of life. And I guess it's a shame to me to hear that that we would be looking at
taking away a natural plant that has shown tremendous relief to so many people and think that that's okay. Whereas I believe every single person should have a right to put a supplement into their body as long as they're educated, they're over the age of 21 and
they know what's going on. I think we do have a problem with the syn the synthetic that's out there. I do think it should be banned, but I think you need to realize that this cratom is a lifeline for some people and you're going to be taking away a lifeline for
many, many, many, many people and it's only going to make things worse. If we're worried about things getting out on the black market and and you know, people buying things off the street, this is a great way to do it. You go through prohibition and then everything goes underground and then people start
dying all over the place. So, I guess I just wanted to support today the fellow credum advocates that are out there and say how much I really would appreciate if you would consider at least leaving the whole leaf credum as
legal and not something that has to be banned. So, I thank you for your time. >> Thank you. All right, maybe third time's a charm. I don't see any more hands, so I am going to close the comments. Okay, for
real this time. Um, all right. So, the next uh Thank you for all of those comments. The next section is on. Um so Kiko maybe um
I don't know if we want to start with the draft regulations or if we want to start with the um the sort of research that I I did one you and you and your team have done several um and maybe summarize what you found there.
>> Yeah, I think it makes sense to start with the research. Okay. >> So, at the end of the meeting, we really thought the most what would be most important would to go be to go out and see what's on the shelves here and to talk with people um about which is what we did at Wildside Smoke Shop. I had a
very long conversation with the staff person there. Um so, but to your point, Betsy, I can share this document. So, we put together a summary document that has photos in it. Do you want me to share that and and then also share the pictures um that Laura attached to her
email as we get into this conversation? >> I think maybe not sharing the text but the pictures. >> Okay, >> we can we can speak to the text but >> Okay. So, let me see if I can share this. Um hang on a second.
>> Are you able to see this? >> Yes. >> Okay. So, these are um John Dailyaly cratom beverages that are on sale at the Cumberland Farms near Fort River. Um and I think these are small beverages. Is that right? They're not big cans,
Risha. >> Oh, yeah. They're You can see the Twizzlers as a comparator. >> Got it. >> That's not why it's there. That's just where the Twizzlers were on the counter, but >> I thought that was very proactive of you if you did that on purpose. Um, and and then my question would be, are these
behind the counter and you have to ask for them or are they grabband go? >> Uh, so they're not grabband and go. This this is, you know, you can see you could grab the twizzlers. They are on the counter within arms reach, but you have
that is not an open case. It can only be taken out from the back and that's what's facing um the cashier. So you a person at the counter can't grab from the front of that box. >> I see. >> But it is straight on the counter right at the cash register.
>> And was there any signage to the effect that it's only for purchases 21 and over? >> No. >> No. >> Okay. Um Okay. So I'm going to stop sharing. >> I see a hand from Betsy. >> Question. So uh that doesn't look like a
natural leaf. That's a beverage. So there's some processing. >> So that >> Okay. Do you do you know because I don't know. I I took the picture. I look I was there. Um but I did not I was surprised at how expensive it was. I didn't feel
like buying it. So I didn't actually look at the um >> because I think part of our question was >> what's out there in our community? Are we seeing the natural leaf products or are we seeing >> I had assumed that was synthetic but now
I'm not entirely sure based on the other stuff Kiko has come up with. >> Um yeah so maybe the highle summary is that we're seeing a combination of these things on the shelves. So in gas stations I went to a few gas stations. I found a few gas stations that didn't have any of these products. Um Risha and
I found a few gas stations that did have these products. And the products that we found like this other one, let me just show you this. This because this one I understand from the young people that work in our office is a particularly popular one. This feel free. There's a
lot of social media following on this particular product which is has creata in it together. Um and then anecdotally is quite addictive. So this I I saw in a couple of places gas station convenience
stores. Um, that is a synthetic product, a 70 synthetics project product. I imagine that the beverage that you saw, Risha, also is a synthetic product, but I don't know for sure. But they all seem to have the same look and feel. They're small bottles. They have names like feel
free or whatever else. This is what we we're we're learning from the people who are knowledgeable about this. And so that isn't most likely a 70 product. So what I'm seeing is that in the convenience stores, it's 70 products. grab and go, snazzy advertising. And
then in terms of the 21 plus, some people are enforcing that or having signage to that effect and other people are not. So, it's inconsistent. >> Is is that a is that a regulation? Is there regulation that it has to be 21 plus? >> I don't think it's a regulation. I don't know for certain. Good question. I think
it's just the the way some people are choosing to market it because it's a substance that has some controversy surrounding it. But >> yeah, I I mean I think part of the problem >> at this point. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I don't think there's any regulation. I I had asked some
neighborhood kids to go buy some. I was not able to convince parents to let them. Um because I I don't I mean I wanted to check if they actually are just by themselves, but I there is no regulation as such. Um I just want to state that I do see that there's a hand
in um and for this part of the meeting until the uh end of the meeting where we have another open comment section we can't take comments. Um so apologies for that. Betsy I see a hand again. >> So again I thought our question was
you know whether the natural leaf product was something that was out on the shelves and restricting it would be a takeaway. And I guess I I'm not sure of the answer to that. >> Well, I didn't get to finish. Let me finish and then I can answer that. So,
okay. As as I was saying, what I noticed in convenience stores is 70 products with with this sort of marketed in this way. >> I went to two um adult only smoke shops that we have in our town. Wildside smoke shop and Lazy Lungs. Both of them had natural leafratom powder on the shelves.
Um I can show you a picture of what I found. Hang on just a second. Um just a moment. Um this is a this is there and there are many different brands. Um but this is what I found at Wildside and there were many different iterations
of this particular um brand of leaf powder. So, with different sorts of names like relax and chill or some other kinds of branding, but the packaging all pretty much looks the same, just slightly different color and they're different dosages and different amounts.
And you can get it either in capsules where the leaf powder is in the capsule or you can get a bag just with the powder in it. Um, so that's leaf powder, which I only saw in those two places, those adult smoke shops. Most of the merchandise that you see in those places
are glasswware, you know, bongs, pipes, things like that. Um, and um, drinks and other things. Some of these CBD products that are covered by the Northampton legisl uh, regulation where they say all novel intoxicating products, which
include some of these CBD drinks that are all through the loophole in the farm bill that allows them to be sold in places that are not cannabis dispensaries. They have things like that on their shelves. They have a lot of mushroom products, gummies and things that have non-silocybin mushrooms in
them. Again, an unregulated product. There's a lot of stuff out there. Um, but to get back to the main point, yes, there is leaf powder for sale in our communities, but I only saw it in these two places. Now, I didn't go to absolutely every store, so it may be somewhere else, but that wasn't the
pattern that that we were seeing in in the more than the half of the stores that we visited. Um, and then in my conversations, and I'll just finish this and then I'll let you all discuss conversation with the employee at Wildside who was very well-informed, very intelligent, very conversational,
very accessible, had a lot to say about people who come in to buy these products. Um, veterans, people with chronic pain, people with PTSD, um, folks who are really using it, as you've heard from many creative advocates, who come to these meetings for chronic pain when other things aren't working. Um,
and he is somebody who answered questions really well, did not have an agenda about pushing a product, was really clear that they don't sell these products to anybody who's not over 21. That's their own internal rule. Um, and
was very answered all of my questions about what they knew about where these products came from. Now, I think they only can get the information that the merchant the merchant that they're purchasing these things provides. I don't know that there's great external testing of products. I think some of the
advocates could tell you that there are some products that are rated as better than others. There it's a website where you can go to look at products that might be less likely to have additives or contaminants or other things. You know, some vendors are more reputable than others, things like that. But my main takeaway from the conversation with
the person at Wildside was that um he does a lot of education with people who come into the shop aboutratom and products. They do also have the 70 stuff there. Um he he talked about how he didn't favor that and he understands that there's a move to ban that and that
he's seen more people have issues, addiction issues with those products, but he didn't have anything negative to say about the cratom leaf powder. Um so that was just my experience in talking with him. So I'll leave it there. Any comments or questions from our board
members? Betsy, >> two questions. One is did you get a sense of how much the sales of the natural leaf powder are? You know, what the ratio of sales are? Is this 10% of the market, the bulk of the market?
Um, you know, they they see a couple people a week, they see a dozen people a week, you know, is this a frequently sold product? uh at at this at the shop. >> Yeah. Um >> I did tell him I was from the the public
health department and they were considering a ban on the product. So, and he was aware that they've been banned in other places. And I so I did I did ask, you know, what what's the main thing that you sell here? What's the main um source of income for you all? And he said it's the glassware. That's where they make most of their money in
that shop. But um there were it's a I didn't ask him that specific question. Are they selling more of the leaf powder than say the 70 um small beverages or or pills that were there? But they certainly had a more extensive supply of cratom leaf powder. It took up a much
bigger, you know, square footage on the shelves than the other things partially because they're bigger packages, but also because it seemed like there was more of it that turns over of that stuff than the other than the 70 stuff. But I didn't ask that specific question. It would have been a good thing to ask.
I think the other question I have is there was a lot of discussion about the whole leaf being the safe product. What I don't know is whether there's a dosing effect that when something is made into a powder it's it's easier to get to
significant concentrations and whether that you know provides any increased risk. I I just don't remember when we were doing our our dive into that uh whether you know no one was saying the natural leaf powder was fine. We were
hearing that the natural leaf and if you see the leaves you know that that's a safe product. >> Yeah, I asked that specific question of Laura Romney in an email that was sent to all of you again just a couple hours before the meeting. So you may not have had a chance to look at it because I had
that same question, Betsy. And um I don't have it right in front of me, but what I remember her saying is that the leaf powder is a lot easier for people because you can mix it into a smoothie. You can pop a capsule. Um it is a little bit more concentrated. The the the tea
if you brew a tea is by nature going to be a little more dilute. So probably more in do higher dosage from the capsules, but if the packaging tells you how much is in there and so you can be you can calibrate how much you're taking into your system. It's it's like easier
to eat. It has a less strong taste. Some people don't object to the taste of the tea and that's why the capsule if you just swallow it or mix it in with you know chocolate milk or something you can't taste it. So but to summarize the leaf powder is considered natural leafratom. um it's just in a different
form and possibly could have higher dosage. I think that's something that the advocates could give more info about but and that's something that uh proper labeling would need to be very um you know would be important >> know whether this is a fair question but
is it okay to ask whether these advocates are paid advocates versus people who have a lived experience? I believe we've asked that question before. Um and and people have said that they are not paid. The people who chimed in at these meetings are not paid
advocates. They are users sharing their personal experience. >> Sorry, >> you're on mute. I do have Kiko's correspondence with Laura Romney up in front of me and um
what I'm concerned about is Laura saying the powder and the capsules are typically natural crayon. I say typically because there could be some that are 70 infused. Um, and then she goes on to say 70 and other synthetics are typically in
pressed tablet format, but that is typical, not always. And and that's the piece that concerns me. Um, you know, how how we're going to regulate
Well, that's an overall question really. how how we're going to regulate regulate and ensure that natural leafratom is the only product that's sold. Um, and who's going to enforce that?
>> Can you say more about the enforcement? What what what's your there's various parts of that. So, I just see which part you're >> fair enough. Fair enough. Well, that's something we also talked about before in in our last meeting about about um enforcement and um it would not be uh
our inspectors, our regular inspectors that do that, right, Kiko? >> Um I think we'd have to figure that out. Um be because it we yeah the our regular inspectors probably wouldn't have the bandwidth to do this. We we could ask,
we could talk about it, but there isn't a ready infrastructure that could go and do this right tomorrow. We'd have to plan something. >> Yeah. So, you know, my question I mean, my concern also is not just it's not just what products do you have, you have
to look at the product to see what it contains, which to me, you know, means that there's there's more to it. It's not straightforward. The other thing I would say, and you know, you can take this for what it's
worth. It's interesting to me that there's nobody local who's spoken up about this. And there's never been anybody local who's spoken up about this. >> Yeah, I I wondered about that, too, because when I went to Wildside, I really got the impression that there
were people who live locally who come and get cratomly from that shop, not infrequently. And so I don't know that those are people though that are tuned in to public meetings that the town of Amorest is holding even if we advertise them through it's just we might not be reaching that those folks and the people
who do show up are people who've really taken an advocacy role and have made it you know an important part of their lives to be talking about this and there may be may be many users in the area who just don't fall into that role so they're not coming to this meeting. So, I mean, I guess that was one thing I
thought about after talking with the Wildside folks is if you really want to hear from people in your community, maybe we should put signs in the places where is sold and say, "Hey, we're thinking about regulating this. Come and tell us what your thoughts are about that." >> Yeah. And I I I see multiple hands up,
so I just want to remind everyone that we cannot call on um attendees versus panelists at this point in the meeting. Um, yeah.
So, I I think I entered uh I entered this conversation three hours ago before that last uh bits of information came in from um from you guys thinking, you know, it was pretty clear what
synthetic was and what um non-synthetic was and that it would be pretty easy to um to draft a regulation with that. I found what you submitted and what you found um actually more complicated. I I
I think it's harder to tell and the responses to those questions for me raised uh questions around the the problem with these products is they aren't in any chain of command as it were, right? They're not regulated
um pharmaceuticals. So that they're not food products. They're not they're not any of those things. And therefore, who is testing that? what they say isn't in them is actually what is in them and I think the answer is nobody right now. Is that true Kiko? Have I misunderstood how
things work? >> I think the only thing as you heard from folks making comments is that the FDA is is you know planning schedule 70 schedule it meaning that it would be a schedule whatever substance and would be you know regulated that way. Yes. But other than that
>> and for the moment uh that isn't there yet. Um and so um I have a real empathy for folks who would like to keep access to the natural leaf product and yet I you know how do we
uh ensure that um is a question in my mind. I think for me there is an urgency about at least making everything 21 plus. Um, I find it really frightening that I could send 10-year-olds from my
neighborhood to buy it and that there's nothing legally restricting that. Um, and that they look they are on the counter. They look like energy tab capsules. Um, you know, that I I I feel like there should be at a minimum a 21
across the board on all these products. Um, and I would love to not postpone it another month. um even you know sort of the uh not let the perfect become the obstacle to the to to moving forward. Um
so that's sort of where I'm at right now. So to make sure I understand, maybe others understood, does that mean you would propose a a regulation that says just that any of these products can
only be purchased by people 21 and over. I I would if it were, you know, my vote is at this moment can still change my mind after you guys comment, but uh would be that um the you know the synthetic is is banned
altogether. Um, if there's a way to do that in the same sort of language that Northampton originally had around synthetically altered cannabonoids and credom uh that that feels great because it does we all there's also holes gaps in the regulation of nonratom products.
Um, and that we would put a 21 uh plus on naturalrum products. Um and then if we again want to go uh and learn more uh have more conversations specifically ask
Ammerisk users to come and and um be part of this conversation with us and you know if we want to sort of hold back the ability to further regulate the natural product but at at my urgency is around at least getting it 21 plus.
>> I see. Well, and my urgency would be getting the synthetic uh ban regulated against uh for sure. Uh you know, I guess for me and I I have absolutely no interest in preventing access to anybody who genuinely finds
this um helpful. My my issue is the safety of the product in the absence of regulation. And again, how how we're going to be able or or the inspectors
are going to be able how reasonable is it for them? Um, you know, I mean, I'm assuming if we say over 21, theoretically it could be sold in shops
other than Lazy Lungs and Wide, right? As long as we put that. Yeah. >> Only sold to to uh people who are above 21. >> Um >> I mean that I guess that's another
option for the board is you could say that you'd restricted sale only to stores, you know, adult only. >> Adult only. They're the only ones who can carry it. >> That would make me feel better about the pro, you know,
limiting access to the product. They are as as far as we know they are the only ones carrying the natural product now. So it would it it's not to our knowledge taking it off the shelf from any other current retailer.
>> Yeah, I think that's right. I did speak to somebody at um Ammeris Market on Triangle Street. I asked if they had products. He said I don't I'm out of them right now. I said what do you carry? He said the powder. So I don't know if that's the pressed powder, you know, synthetic powder or if it's the natural powder. I'm not sure. So, it's
possible that it could be on shelves elsewhere because we didn't hit every single store, but it seems like it's not a big part of the, you know, whatever >> the convenience store market right now. >> Yeah. Yeah. Or their inventory. But
nevertheless, the fact that it's accessible theoretically and in some cases practically when when he does have a supply is I mean even if you sell to someone even if you only sell to someone who's
21 there's no guarantee right without examining the product that the the contents as stated on on the package what exactly they're getting that that concerns me.
>> I'm going to reiterate what I think you're saying, Premla, and and correct me if I I have it slightly off. Um it part of the concern here is your concern here around um the fact that we just there is no standards on
labeling. Mhm. >> Um and therefore they can say it's natural and none of us, the inspectors, the vendor, the retailers, the users would know different. Mhm. >> Um or is it that
if we take the label in at face value um that it there is a it requires a bit of a higher level of uh analysis from both the retailer and the consumer to understand what what you
know that they're looking for not 70. Um >> and and that purpose could be served by I mean what you first said it's true that is my concern. >> Okay. >> If you li at least at minimum limit it
to where you can get it that sort of reduces um accessibility. Well, it takes I mean again since since we know I mean I'm sort of blown away that the answer to this is here's a list
of folks that we think sell good product. Um because my goodness that's a nobody you know nobody has uh clinically trial. It's as a user that would be a
very hard thing to um to know and as a retailer and so I think you know taking that limiting it to stores who sort of specialize more in this stuff who seem to have knowledgeable buyers, sellers
um feels like a much safer way versus you know someone who owns a gas station who sees a demand and goes to fill it maybe with all good intentions of it being the proper product, you know, the proper natural product, but isn't
informed enough to know how to look for um those various things. >> And we are making an assumption because the person at uh Wild >> Wild >> Wildside was very knowledgeable. That
isn't necessarily true of the other u smoke shop in town. Um, I'm not I'm not saying that. I mean, it seems to me that that is at least some containing of the issue, but not
not a guarantee in relation to safety at all. So, I think what I'm hearing, and Jack hasn't said anything, so feel free to to jump in, but I think what I'm hearing is an overall desire to keep natural cryum
available. Sorry, I just realized Premala, we're we're pronouncing it wrong again. Um, Prome keep it uh available to people who are finding benefit of it and using it safely. However, we are hampered by the fact
that because there's no regulation, it is very hard to safely do that and take off what we all have sort of agreed is an extremely harmful product. Um, and so I think we're trying to find the balance in until better regulation comes that
can guarantee us that what it says on the product is actually what it is on the product. >> Um, a way of keeping access available to people in the safest way possible. Um, and that might be a 21 plus. That might be an adults only store in addition to a
21 plus. >> Um, I don't know if there's other uh ways that people have thought of to to sort of balance that desire. So, um, you know, I find I I struggle with this
because it's I don't I'm not that familiar with the product. I've I I have heard of it. Um, but I'm just kind of shocked that there's no nothing from the state or federal level on this. And I and I think, you know, Premla's point about
just the the things on the packaging can just be fictitious. Uh, which is concerning, you know. Um, so I'm just I'm really kind of confused that this kind of thing exists,
you know, and is out there and it's just it can be dangerous. Um, but I'm I'm very interested in looking at the the South Hadley uh regs. I know we've uh
I don't have the Northampton ones in front of me, but for me I I would like to go over those, but I'm I'm not sure what you think we can get done today. Um >> yeah, >> you know, um I don't I mean, do you want
to like pull things off the shelf until we get it resolved like in in a month or two or something or >> There's always going to be new stuff. Yeah, >> I I think I mean it seems to me the synthetics are the crucial um that it would behoove us not to delay regulating
that. >> And >> yeah, >> and I would be in favor of the natural only being available uh at adult only stores until further notice. I don't know that that's I'm sure there are many
many good actors whose products say who have what they say they have but that's not everybody and that's not commerce and therefore you know our job is to be vigilant on behalf of the public and um
so so anyway I think to me it seems an intraim measure of banning the synthetic and other synthetically derived products and then restricting this to adulton only establishments and keeping it under advisement. I mean I would love to post
have something posted in the adult only establishments saying let us hear from you. Um so you know so that we're more informed. I see you had a hand earlier. You're still on mute. you muted yourself again.
>> There you go. >> So, I I agree with I think the drift of what Kremla is saying that it's really important to um to regulate the synthetic, but the difficulty is
knowing what's synthetic and what's not synthetic. I find myself really troubled by this idea of powder. You know, if 2% is the um the the threshold of what's considered okay and you have powder that
can, you know, easily get to a concentration twice or three times what you get from a leaf being brewed. I guess I'm I I'd like I'd like to see compelling
evidence. I I No one was talking in the research that we that we did that I recall about the powder as a a safe form that's under that 2% threshold. Um
it seems that it's pretty hard to regulate something that doesn't have a house where that regulation um somebody's there's some responsibility and you know ability to
to oversee that. It does seem like limiting things to the adult only and smoke shops where people are more knowledgeable and also have this as a significant part of their business. And so the enforcement of the regulations,
something that's important to people, it's a area of their business they're really attached to. I think that's an improvement over having it in convenience stores and gas stations where there isn't the same investment in >> Yeah. >> um in doing it. So, I think that that's
a good interim step, but I feel like I I just don't remember seeing anything about the powder being something that something that says natural powder being something that is reliably considered safe.
>> Yeah. And I I guess I would just say on enforcement, I think I think the fact that we don't have staff that are, you know, that we are aware of that have time to add this on shouldn't stop us from passing the regulation. And I say that
because what might end up being the enforcement mechanism here is people reporting it. Um so concerned parents, concerned others seeing something um you know if if we pass something it would go out in the newspapers hopefully there'd
be more awareness around it. I think I'm starting to see more um on social media and other areas about it. So I think it is becoming people are becoming more aware of it and so they might you know call the health department and say hey I saw this it's not supposed to be there
and that would be our rather than having people regularly go out um to all places that might possibly because the problem with the regulation is that we only inspect the places that have licenses for tobacco.
Um and so all those other places that possibly because you know right now anyone could sell it. Um we wouldn't have the mandate to or the the manpower to sort of have that done routinely. And I but I think it's okay. Sorry that was a long way of saying
that. Um, I I I will say I mean I'm assume I think if I'm understanding you correctly, Betsy, your concern about the powder also is someone using more of it, a greater
concentration of it, right, than than what's recommended. Um, and you know, I I know I remember in the Northampton regulations before they did a complete ban, uh, there was a section
where you had to hand out pamphlets. The people who sold them had to hand out pamphlets about how to use this and so on. And that seems to me to be I'm not sure where the pamphlets would come from, but um, that seems to me also a
reasonable measure. I I I would still advocate at least restricting it to adult only establishment. I think if you weren't restricting it the ability to having a
meaningful educational experience in a convenience store with a high school student who's doing some afterchool work and you know is is doing a lot of other things but
educating on about safe use of cret would would be a lift. >> Yeah. No, I I'm talking about having the uh the education happen in the adult only establishments because that would
give that would provide an added measure of protection. >> Right. >> Yeah. So, Kiko um could we vote on banning all synthetically altered cannabonoids
andratom a sales in airmer and restricting um natural uh product sales to 21 and older and in
adult only venues or retailers. Uh, I know that's not exactly how you've written up the draft. Um, but could we make that vote? Um, and I'm it's not really fair for me to be asking you. I should know the answer as well. But
then, you know, we each read the draft as it comes. Um, do we have to have another meeting if I guess we'd have to have another meeting if there are any changes, right?
Yeah, I think that we're talking about um adding in some language maybe. Did you say Premma that you wanted to add in some language about educational material >> being distributed? >> I think that that would be Yes. If you look if you look at the Northampton
regulations that you included, it specifically says pamphlets. >> Yeah. and and so uh you know again to me that is an added safeguard not foolproof but an added safeguard right so normally with this kinds of conversations what
we've done in the past is you all have said okay this is what we we have this draft of the regulations we like it but we want to take this out we want to put this in we want to add this sentence so that's essentially what you're doing you're saying because we presented you two versions of the regulations the ones that we thought we were going to vote on
that had you know that are basically the cop copy of Northampton's that say banning everything and then we're kind of revisiting it. So we sent you the old Northampton regulations that had that language about natural cratom leaf is accepted and it can be only be sold to
20 21 and over and you have to have educational material. So I think what we'd want to hear if you all can decide we want these regulations to say banning synthetic cratom okay to sell to over 21 or adult only stores. It's one or the
other. I think you have to decide because otherwise, right? I think you have to decide that. And then do you want to put that language in about educational material. Um, and then the the other thing that I think is in the Northampton rag is about the the label should have certain things on it. And I
think that this is going to be a little bit of a test, right? We we do this first iteration and then we see what it's like to enforce with those guidelines. I mean, Northampton decided that's going to be too fussy. We don't want to do it. That's why we're banning everything. There's certainly a school of thought that says don't do that
because people need access to natural leaf cratom. Try to regulate in this way according to the labeling which I think we can do our best job of. Um and especially if it's only being sold in two stores that'll make it easier on people who have to look at >> in Northampton. I want to say that it
sounded to me like most of what guided their decision to make it a complete ban is nobody was selling that in their area of jurisdiction. Nobody was selling natural leaf creative. That that's what was said at the meeting. But
>> I remember you're right and thank you for that and I'm surprised by that because I wonder if what they meant was nobody was selling the tea, the actual whole leaf cratom because that I didn't see but I certainly saw the powder lots of it at Wildside and I would be surprised if it's the only place in the
area that has the powder. I think they were lumping the powder in as something that wasn't this natural whole leaf cratom to me. >> I mean their regulations exempted the old version exempted raw unaltered craton leaf or powder
>> or powder. Okay. I mean >> well I I'm just saying that as a it wasn't a question of convenience necessarily. Um but yeah, I mean I think if if we can get that done today,
then that would be helpful. And again, the second piece, the natural leaf is, you know, again, as as Kiko said, you'll see how it goes. And you know, we I'm assuming we can make an addendum if we need to. >> Yeah. And we have a model. I mean, we
can look at what South Hadley's how they've worded it. Springfield has also done something similar. So, you know, people are taking different approaches to this. >> I couldn't find South Hadley, so I would I don't think it's publicly available yet. >> I think you're right. It sounds like it was just two weeks ago that this
happened. I wasn't aware of that. So, >> yeah, >> can look into that. >> Um, I will just say I'm not a fan of the educational material. Um, for what it's worth, I mean, I'm not gonna It doesn't feel like the biggest
part of this. So, um, but my my sense is we could certainly give uh them, but we would have to come up with it. We It says, you know, the way Northampton has it is the Department of Health approved. Um,
I I see I guess to me that would be maybe a a thing to add on in the future if we feel like the the dosage is because I hear Bets's concern and I share that. Um, I don't think we're going to find research one way or
the other on it because part of the issue is there just hasn't been a lot. Um >> yeah remember >> I just wish I had seen some u of the data saying um you know I remember
seeing the the research on the leaf but I don't remember seeing anything about the powder and that this is um you know it's already there's an extraction product. It's not like they're just crushing whole leaves and making it into a fine powder, right?
there. >> But it seems to me the bottom line though is regardless of the process, there's no regulation of it, right? So anyone could theoretically
say anything and sell it as powder, but at least if there's limited access, that provides some safety measures. I yeah let me just um conclude my thought on the the educational
materials. I find policy regulations around educational materials really difficult to uh to adhere to as as the person adhering to policies. Um, and I can imagine the immense eye rolls the third time you hand it to the same buyer
and are like, I have to do this. And I would hate I I would not feel great about levying a penalty on someone who's doing everything right but didn't hand a flyer that time. Um, it just doesn't feel like the piece that I'm super
motivated to to um to to be worried about. Um, having said that, again, it's not the it's not the make or break for me. Let me let you, anyone comment on that? And then I have one more uh question on the Northampton ones.
Does anyone feel strongly about uh the the pamphlets and education material? Well, I I mean I to me again it's like we know one store has well-informed staff. Is that staff member there all
the time? Uh you know who's there to and and who's there at the other store? Who's going to guide them in terms of how to use it? And if there's something that's printed, there's something you can give to people um that provides some guidance. That's
where I'm coming from because it's very hard to guarantee appropriate counseling. >> Sure. >> I just looked at the time and realized we really need to move on. Um
are we at a place where we can um take a vote on well start with the the relatively easier bits of this. Um, are we in agreement that we want to um
completely ban the sale of synthetically altered cannabonoids andratom? >> Yes, >> Jack. Yeah. Okay. >> Okay. Are we in agreement that we want to limit sales of natural cratom and we
can use the official raw unadulterated leaf or powder um to adult only stores? Yes. >> Okay. Uh there is a question on the educational materials whether that's a
optional or mandated thing. I think Preml and I have both weighed in. Betsy and Jack, anyone have opinions there? What what um >> are will will retailers be required to
give out educational materials um so that we can mitigate >> so we can uh be very clear that there are the labeling problems that they're not tested and dosage recommendations
>> and why why were you not why did you question that as being >> I find it difficult to regulate um handing out materials. >> I see. >> Um >> right. >> I mean the thing is we could develop
some materials including asking people to give us feedback at the health department about if they have questions aboutratom or had difficulty but we wouldn't put it in the regulation. So it wouldn't be something that we'd have to regulate enforce track. It could just be something that the health department develops and gives to the stores for
them to hand out if they want instead of being it something that you're going to find people on like you were saying earlier Risha if they don't hand it out like that seems not something that you'd want to do. >> Yeah, it seems like a reasonable compromise. >> So then there's no wording about it in the regs, but it's something that we can
develop. Does that sound right? >> And I think we should develop it. I I think that this is a place that people need to have more education on. Um, can I uh, Kiko, you mentioned that there was something about labeling in the old Northampton regs and I couldn't find
that. >> Or maybe per I I thought it was Kiko. Maybe I I somebody mentioned a labeling section that I was not able to find. So, I'm not sure what that is in reference to. >> Maybe it's in the new ones. Um,
>> I thought it was in the older one. Um, >> trying to remember. I'm looking. >> Okay, Betsy. >> Yeah, I'm still a little confused. I was going online trying to see whether everything that's called a catratom
powder is the natural. Like, does it have to say natural cret powder? What is the exact wording of what we're allowing? >> I think it's that it doesn't say 70. >> Yeah,
>> there there was the 2% is, you know, um so it's not that the powder doesn't have any of the >> seven hydroxy >> or the metrogenine whatever it's called >> or the metrogenine. So I think we have
to be more specific than that. I don't think that's adequate. So the the description in the um in the old Northampton regulation says that raw this is what's exempt is raw unaltered cratom leaf powder I think you read this with no synthetic additives provided it's properly labeled will the full list
of ingredients clearly displayed on the package serving size and dosing recommendations are included and does not violate state or federal law >> the powders that are available and see whether those actually are
would fall under that um guidance >> does that accurately capture >> but does it really I I guess I would ask Betsy if that matters if if we feel that that is what is the minimum that should be on the powder then then that's what
it should be and if the product doesn't meet those standards then they'll have to find another product that does >> well if that doesn't it if that isn't on the P products that they're selling then we we don't have a problem of
you know it goes back to the same thing that this isn't something that fits under what we're trying to allow. So are there products that are labeled in a way that we would allow them under these regulations? Yeah, my understanding of what's
considered the proper labeling for these products would be that it has dosing and it says that it's just there no additives. So it's under ingredients it would say full le you know powder from whole leafratom or something like that without anything else. The 70 products have other things listed as ingredients
and then it would have dosing instructions. Um, if it doesn't have the actual ingredients, it would have a reference to a website or batch info where you could find the information about the ingredients that are in that particular package. And it should also have the required FDA language about how
this supplement has been not not been evaluated by the FDA for safety. Any supplement that you buy has that language on it. So, this should also have that language if it's properly labeled. >> And do we know whether the products that were in that store fit under that? I
didn't look cuz I I think we >> I think we need to because >> if we're making a big thing to make sure that >> something that's currently available stays available, but actually what's available wouldn't wouldn't pass this
test. I think this is part of why Northampton found this a bit overwhelming because it might mean that we would go into wildside and say, "Okay, you're selling leaf powder, but it actually doesn't meet these labeling requirements that we now have in our and so you have to take this product away and buy this one instead. Here's the
list of products that are approved that have these criteria proper labeling possibly >> or they have >> I would advocate for having the least amount of specificity
at this point. So saying raw unadulterated cratom powder or leaf >> full stop >> full stop and learn over the next coming months
what we can and should add to that as as clarity um because I don't want to not do anything now because we don't have the you know the perfect information >> um and I don't want to do what you're worried about Betsy which is ban things
we didn't mean to ban and get ourselves in a bit of a pickle. >> Well, it wasn't going there. I was thinking maybe everything that's on the shelves would fit into the things we're going to ban because in fact it's not going to be labeled as just natural crushed leaf because I'm not sure how
you get to a powder without having I I don't know but I I just don't know that the things that are out there would would >> would actually meet >> these requirements And if we don't have
products that are in our community that meet these requirements, we don't have to, you know, it's a different it's a different and simpler band. Okay.
How do we feel about um the language around raw unadulterated leaf or powder period as the thing that is allowed to be sold in 21 plus
stores only stores? >> Okay, >> I'm I'm happy with that. >> So, can we get a motion >> amend as needed in as we gain more information? Okay. Yeah. >> Yeah. Um, can we get a motion to, let me
try to say this, um, uh, amend the draft regulations to ban all synthetically altered cannabonoids andratom from sale in Ammerst and allow raw
unadulterated cratom leaf or powder in adult only stores. Can we get a motion? moved. >> So moved. Yes. >> All right. I'll take Premula as a second. Um, all those in favor?
>> Jack, are you in favor? >> I Great. >> Um, okay. I do think we have a lot of work to still be done on this. Um, I would like to uh take Kiko's idea and actually put signs in those stores and
ask for people to come to future meetings and tell us what they think about um and I think have further discussions with the store owners to understand what reasonable labeling is and um and what we can do there. And I'm
sure we will continue to hear from the the public at large uh as to how close we're getting on this. >> All right, we have a lot of other business that we're gonna have to fly through. Uh so, Kiko, the next on the
agenda is um the well. >> Yeah. And this is fairly straightforward. So, folks remember that the board approved the geothermal well project at Ammerst College. There are multiple wells that have been dug there. it went through the it just the project ended up taking longer than expected so
the permit ran out and they had to reapply. So um we can promote Chris Tate from the waiting room. Maheen if you could do that um who can give a little bit more info and answer questions. >> Chris, are you there? >> Yes, I am. >> Thanks everyone.
>> You want to give a quick summary since we're running so behind here? >> Yeah, I can do a very quick summary. Uh the original well permit uh well 247 was granted in October 24 and you guys
extended that permit for us uh in October of 25 but now it expires in April of 26. So we're just trying to continue the same exact work from that original permit uh but to get us through
the summer. Um, so that's 51 bores remaining out of the 141 that had been previously approved. Uh, and none of the other details with the project have changed. We'll still use Leframboy's well drilling for the work. Um, we just
sent them home for the winter because uh that that winter work is very slow and painful. So, uh, the plan is to get everything done over the summer and then we'll repave the remaining section of the parking
lot. So, that's the very quick version. And I'm happy to >> I can talk for hours, so just let me know what you need. >> Uh, what is the end date of the extension you're requesting? Well, I would be fine with the year-long
permit that, you know, you would get anyway, but I'm hoping the end date will be August of 26. That's the goal. >> Okay. If we extended this one, it would be April of 27. Is that >> Yeah, because they're usually a
year-long permit is my understanding. >> All right. Uh, any questions from the board? Okay. Anyone want to make a motion to approve? Betsy makes a motion to approve. >> Second.
>> Great. Jack second. I I'm glad to hear your voice because I know I want your opinion on this one. Uh and all those in favor either say I or raise your hand. Jack, we need an I from you. >> Jack, if you can hear us, we need you to vote on this.
>> Yeah. Do you hear me? >> Now we do. Yep. >> Is that an I for you? >> Yes. I Yeah. >> Okay. >> I'm sorry. >> No problem. I understand you're you're in the middle of traveling now. Uh all right. It is passed, Chris.
>> Okay. Thank you very much for your time. I appreciate it. >> Thank you. Sorry for the long wait that you have. >> That's okay. I know much more about cratom now than I did. >> All right. The next agenda item is the request for
variance on body art regulations. Kico, you're going to give us an intro to this. >> Yes, I'll give a brief intro. So, this is um also fairly straightforward. Um so, this group worked on the body art regulations. they were revised um you know really within the last year or so
year and a half and um there have been some practitioners who've been working in apprentichip roles at our local our one and only body art establishment here in Ammerst before these some of the new provisions that we wrote that you all wrote in about hours that required were
required for apprentices and other things. And so essentially um the requirement for somebody to complete an apprenticeship and then be able to be licensed as a full practitioner is that they have and this is on page 25 of the body art regulations which were sent to
you again for your reference. Um 2400 hours working with a trainer tattoo artist, 200 hours of documented procedure observation and 100 tattoos performed under trainer supervision. And there's an addendum to the regulations with a log that we not required but
recommended that people use to document these hours that these regulations were that addendum were issued after this particular person had already been apprenticed for a couple of years. So they the bottom line is they don't have the logs to show
>> this. But the letter that you received, which again I apologize, was sent to you only this afternoon from Steven Lambert, who's the owner of Wander Last Tattoo, lines out the amount of experience that this person Cameron, who's been with them now for couple years. Um, not
three, but a couple has has done. And so, and it's more than he he's working there full-time, so he's exceeded the number of hours. So, you can review that letter and look. Um, and Stephen is actually here with us, so we can also promote him to panelists and have him uh weigh in about this situation.
Hopefully, I've captured it reasonably well. Stephen, please go ahead. >> You need to unmute yourself. There you go. >> Yeah. Okay. So, all right. Um, I've had Cameron working for me for about two years. Before that, he worked in
Connecticut for a year, right? So, if you just like do like the simple calculation as to like how like much time he's worked for me, it's it's well over the 24 hours that was requested. Um, and as far as like logs go, like I
had him tattoo for a year for free on his friends and family. So, like you asked for how many procedures um to be done beforehand? Does anybody recall? >> Oh, I can look.
a hundred tattoos performed under trainer supervision. >> Sorry, I was muted. >> Okay. So, Okay. So, he has like he did over 200 free tattoos in that first year and then he I've had him tattooing now for uh another year after that under my
supervision and Daniel's supervision as well. So, this seems like a reasonable um what's the word I'm looking for? I mean, I know it's a variance, but a a reasonable um substitution for the
documentation that we were asking for. Um does anyone have any questions? Um, is it possible to get I I I read Susan's letter which asked for documentation from the establishment in Connecticut that he worked for. Is that
a reasonable option or No, >> the establishment has been closed for about a year or two and the man has moved. >> Okay. So, but going with the regulations that you've already uh that have already
been put in place, like he's far exceeded the 2400 hours. So, like wouldn't that circumvent the uh the need for that documentation >> because it would be about the amount of time like put in. So if like the man has
been apprenticing for two full years here and exceeded those hours and exceeded the amount of time that like he one needs to shadow and two needs to like uh do the work as well as
uh having like all the other certifications that were asked for would then like asking for him to get somebody else who's like moved on uh just be like above and beyond.
>> Well, it's not a it's not a reasonable request obviously if the outfit is closed and Yeah. >> the person has moved out. Yeah. >> Yeah. I mean, he did have like a a notorized um something notorized like saying that like he was an apprentice
there. >> Fair enough. Uh do do we have or could we have just a a note on the file stating um that he has done well over a 100 procedures and well over 2400 hours with
your signature. Is that part of the packet already or could it be? >> No, it is. >> Yeah, that's that's the email that was sent today. I don't know that it's signed, but we can certainly I mean >> it was signed. >> It was signed. Okay, great. Thanks. I just Yeah, perfect.
So, I'm happy with that using that as a um a variance. Can I ask how this affects next year's application? Like once we do it, is it done? Um or yeah, how do we handle making sure that it
doesn't come up every time? >> Yeah. So, he would be licensed then as a full practitioner and then he's now a full practitioner from here on in. >> Yep. >> Okay. >> Any other concerns from anybody else? Sorry, I'm rushing these through because
we got so far behind. I know there's still more to come. Uh, would someone like to make a motion to approve this variance? >> And a second. >> I second. >> Prom seconds. All those in favor say I or raise hand. >> I.
>> Thank you, Jack. Uh, it is unanimously uh approved and thank you for your time, Stephen. if you um maybe this isn't the time, but I'd also be really interested if you've had any other experiences with those regulations
um that you have any feedback on because we we definitely went back and forth a lot on them. >> Um yeah, so I'd like to change a few things like and one addresses um like ear piercing for for like younger
individuals, right? So, like if you can go to the mall and like get pierced with a gun and like I I really consider that to be an uncleanly practice. Um I I would like it uh changed so that like we could have children uh I'd say like from
like five on when they can like understand what's happening uh come in and get their ears pierced. So we have a lot of parents in town that are concerned about cleanliness like going to like Claire's or like piercing Pagota or whatever it is at the mall. um that we'd really like to have uh that
changed. >> Uh to be fair, um you cannot go anywhere in Amoris and get it with a gun and Claire's has shut down so that's not available at the mall anymore either. >> Uh yeah, and I guess like the Holy Oak Mall would probably be what I'm talking about.
>> And then like other towns, I know like you modeled a lot of wanted to model a lot of stuff uh after Northampton. I've heard that like mentioned a few times and Northampton allows that. um allows like uh children coming to uh tattoo shops to get uh their ears pierced as
well. >> Okay, great. Thank you for that feedback. >> Was there anything else? You had a few. I think >> um off the top of my head, um I don't have anything right now. Uh that's not
to say that like things won't come up in the future. That's just the first thing I thought of off the top of my head. Okay. Well, please don't hesitate to let us know if um you know the the goal here is to get the safety right and uh not to
create a bureaucracy that's undoable. So, please do reach out if if there's anything further. Um but thank you for your time today. >> Yeah, thanks Stephen. Stephen and I had had some conversations. I dropped by the the establishment and we talked a lot about some of I had some questions about some of the different types of piercings and you gave me very good feedback which
then was brought to the board. So, we did all we incorporated some of that feedback already, but it's great to hear from you again today. So, thanks. >> Awesome. No problem. If you guys have any questions about piercings, um Jay has been working for me for uh >> two years. So, it's been a while. I'm
sorry. I'm getting older. Um but he's been piercing for like 15 16 years. Like he really knows what he's doing. So, if you guys have any like real questions about like piercing or anything like that, like we'd love to help you out. if you have any like real questions about like tattooing or body modification,
I've been in this industry since 2003. Um, and I've been around it a lot longer than that. Uh, so feel free to ask. I'm more than happy to help you guys out. >> Great. >> Thank you. >> Thank you so much. >> Yep. No problem. And thank you.
>> Great. All right. Our next order of business is the tobacco permit transfer. Back to Kiko. >> Yeah. Hi. Uh, okay. So, this is similar to what we heard back in September when Russell's Liquors changed hands. So, this is Lazy Lungs, which is one of the
two adult only um establishments in Ammerst. It's a small shop behind the CVS on North Pleasant Street. Um so, this has now been recently been purchased by a new person, Randy Reia. He purchased the whole LLC in intact. Didn't create a new LLC. Um but that's,
you know, that's really neither here nor there. One thing that we do need to do is to determine that the the business was actually purchased for some value. Um it wasn't because tobacco permits are we don't there's a they're capped and so we want to make sure that they're
passing to someone through a legitimate business sale and this was that. Um I didn't send that on to everybody because it would have been a matter of public record and I didn't think that was quite right somehow to put that in the meeting packet but we did review those. Um, and this was a a bonafide purchase of a
business. Um, so he has submitted all of the the um licenses and whatnot. We sent you a copy of the application that comes to us in open gov. It's fairly rudimentary. All the contact information there is correct. Um, and everything is
in order for him. I think he took ownership of the business two days ago. Um, so it's just about the board approving this permit. The one issue that I did flag um or wanted to flag for you all is that we normally require for any of the businesses that we license in
the town workers compensation insurance, proof of workers compensation, an affidavit that's signed and also a copy of the actual insurance policy. Um in this case, it's a sole proprietorship. So Randy is says that he will not have any employees. It's just he and his son
who will run the business. And so he's exempting himself from the workers comp requirement, which some other businesses have done, like you know, the popsicle cart that just has one person. They also have done that. Um, the one question I had is that this shop has two sides. It
has the adult only side, which you can only come into, you're only allowed in if you show an ID at the door, and then it has the all ages side. And so if there are only two people there, um, somebody needs to leave for a minute. I thought, well, that could be a little challenging to run both sides of the
store if you have only these two owners that are the employees and there aren't any other employees. Um, I think that's something that we can monitor and be aware of, but I just wanted to make sure that the board was knew about that. >> How are they separated?
>> They are um they have two separate entrances and then there's kind of like a a vestibule between them that's curtained off or has a closed door between them. So if you're on the adult only side, it says employees only. You can't go through to the other side and vice versa. So only employees can go
back and forth, but um uh customers cannot. So I guess in terms of where where we have I mean we can ask any questions of the transfer or not but your concern
seems to be that two people might not be a sustainable way to to run both sides of the business and I think you know can we seems weird that the the board of health is the one looking at the at that
particular issue on workers comp. Um >> um I think >> it just hasn't come in front of us before. >> Yeah, I I think it's unusual because this is the first time that I've reviewed a tobacco permit application that didn't have a workers comp uh insurance policy. So that's why it kind of, you know, was different for me.
Um I think that the reason it might be I think whenever I've gone into that store in the past, there have always been two employees there. I think it's important to have two people there because you cannot if you're on the adult only side and someone comes into the other side, you you wouldn't, you know, you wouldn't be there. You wouldn't be able to see what's
happening. So, you need to have at a minimum two people. And if you only have two employees and someone needs to take a break, then that could be a potentially an issue, especially when you need to look for IDs and you need to make sure that you are selling to appropriate people. That's where I think it's a board of health concern potentially. Now, I I think we give him
the benefit my thought is maybe the board would give him the benefit of the doubt. There's no reason to believe that this won't go well, but it's just it's just down the street. It's something that I might, you know, just keep an eye on. And so, I thought it was important for the board to know what is the entrance where you look for
ID. It's just a regular door that someone would should run up to when someone comes in and ask for ID. There's a bell. You ring a bell. So, um Yeah. So, yeah, that's how it works. >> Yeah. >> And it's locked. So, it's you can't just
walk in. It's locked. You ring a bell. Someone comes to like look at your ID and let you in if you're of age. >> Okay. Yeah. I mean, I think it's a really fair concern. I just am not sure Yeah. how how we get involved there
other than to flag it and say we need to be sure about ID checking. >> Yep. And the tobacco license applies to both sides or only the adult only. >> It should be adult only, right? >> Yeah. Right. >> Okay.
Okay. I don't have any other questions. Anyone else? All right. Anyone want a motion to uh approve the transfer? And a second. >> Second. >> Thank you, Jack. All those in favor say
I or raise your hand. >> I. >> And that's unanimous. All right. >> Moving right along. >> Moving right along. >> To you. Over to you, >> director's update. I know. I'll make it
I'll make it as quick as I can. As I said, there is a lot happening and I do want to let you know about sort of the more important things. So, Valley Vax, at the last meeting, I promised that the website would be live. It is live and it was in the newspaper. >> I saw it >> a week or so ago. Um, top first story
above the fold. I was very happy. And we are getting there's a feature on the website where people can send in questions where we answer them and we post the answers on our sort of frequently asked questions page. So, we've gotten some questions which has been great. I think as a result of the
publicity. Um so so far we're managing to keep up with it. I don't know if it's going to get to a point where there'll be so much volume that it might be challenging, but so far it's really great to have this resource for people that they feel that they can tap into folks in their local community to ask questions about vaccines. So um so
that's going well so far. Um the infectious disease update, we have a report, a 2025 report on our infectious disease uh occurrence in the region. It's not really anything that's earthshattering. I think rather than talk about it now, I'll just send it to the board so you all can look at it and
if there are questions, we can certainly talk about it at the next meeting. There wasn't anything noteworthy that I saw in the report. Um I think for emergency preparedness, I share at the last meeting that um I've sort of stepped in to take on a leadership role with the coalition that
disbanded when Northampton stepped away. Um and that's going okay. We have another meeting next week. We're kind of bringing things back together. The main thing going forward is that we just need to establish two representatives. Um I think we have four people whose contact information is in web EOC which is sort
of the emergency database but we really only need two reps to this committee. I am obviously one of them and it would be great to have another board member to be that other person. Now Risha has attended one of the meetings. Um Betsy, you and Risha are the board of health members that are listed in the database.
Um, so I so I think it would just be nice to have one person who's kind of the official like if I'm not available, somebody else could go. Um, and I didn't know if you wanted to make a decision about that or talk about that. Think about that right now.
>> One question, one question I had is we get these messages and I still don't know what I'm supposed to do when I get them. >> Yeah. And I I hate taking on a responsibility and feeling like, you know, that
that I don't know what, you know, that I'm not really doing it in a responsible way. So I feel like I' I'd want to know what that responsibility. So let let me let me clarify. There are
two separate things. When you get those notices, it's because your name is listed in the database. So, if there were an actual emergency, like, you know, flooding or a huge power outage, ice storm, and there was a need to bring people together, you would get that
message, emergency meeting of something or other. Right now, all you're getting is drills. You're just getting drill messages. And as long as one person responds, which has always been me, it doesn't matter. You don't need to respond. So, it might feel weird to ignore that text message, but unless it's an actual emergency, then you don't
have to worry about it. Um, and then the the meeting is a coalition of representatives from boards of health in the 21 Hampshire County municipalities to come together and do some emergency planning exercises. like there will be a
tabletop discussion about um making sure that every town has an emergency response framework, people designated, you know, some kind of idea of where your sheltering place would be. Do you have CS? Just making sure that everyone has kind of the bare minimum. So those will be exercises that will happen
through these meetings which we need two representatives for. I'm obviously one and then somebody from the board of health would be a good other rep. So maybe that's you, maybe that's Risha, maybe it's somebody else. So, those are the two things that we're talking about. Hope that's helpful. >> Thank you. I don't think I understood
that those are two different things necessarily. >> Why would you? It's very confusing. >> And and I have tried many times to respond to those uh text messages and I can't. Um >> yeah, >> I is is anyone dying to be part of this? I am happy to be the second person. Um,
but I'm also very happy if someone would else would like to feel as passionate about >> I'm happy for you to do it because the truth is I'm traveling a lot these days and but on any given day when you can't
do it, please try me and and if I can do it, I would be happy to. That that goes for both of you. Um, so I'm happy to be a backup >> alternate. Yeah. Okay. >> Yeah, >> that's great. >> Great. Thanks, Betsy.
>> Pico, is this the same thing that Northampton is part of or is this the old system that was in place that Northampton withdrew from? >> Um, so the the web EOCC database, I
think Northampton's information is still in that if that's what you're asking. But the the Hampshire Public Health Preparedness Coalition, Northampton used to chair it and they've withdrawn >> and I'm now the inter. >> Um, so
>> by the way, >> what's that? >> I said thank you for offering to do that, Risha. >> Yes, thank you, Risha. Um, quickly, uh, Betsy, because this was something you were interested in, the AED idea that you expressed a lot of interest in our last meeting. I talked to Paul about it.
He thought it was a great idea. He thought we could we could use um, a capital we could apply for a capital grant um, uh, capital funding for a an AED project. We would just need to figure out how extensive where the AEDs would need to go. I mean, I think it's
kind of a project that you and I could work on or anybody else who's interested in. It's a program, not a policy really. Um I think um so anyway, there there's interest and we can follow up on that. I think it would might be a nice thing for us to focus on.
>> Excellent. That would be very meaningful to me. I'd really >> be willing to put some real effort into that and um >> Okay, good. So, more to come. I just wanted to let you know that I'd followed up on that. I also want to let you all
know that the conflict of interest training that you all did, hopefully you all did, I think it's supposed to be done by Friday. No need for any certificates to be sent to anybody, it all automatically the information gets populated and sent to the county cler uh sorry to the town clerk. So if you've
done it, you're good. Nothing else needed. Um and um I think the two more things real quickly. So, we are operating a warming center here in the Bangs because the weather has been so cold. It's usually
the town's practice to send out a press release saying that certain town buildings are serving as warming centers. And we've actually made a more sort of um strate or an actual place for people to hang out here in the banks because we do have some space. So, there's an area down by the main
entrance. We have some coffee. We have some ground rules. Staff go and check in on folks. and there is a regular bunch of at least three to five people who are coming here every day to and it's been going very smoothly. Um so I'm glad that we've been able to offer that service
because there isn't any other kind of a drop-in warming center here in Ammerst. Craig Stores runs a resource center. Their pipes are frozen at the moment. It's also a it's a trailer so this often happens to them in the winter because it's all the external plumbing stuff. Um I hope they're going to get it back
online. It's also a very small space. So, it's just nice that we're able to offer that to people in the community. And then the final thing is just to build on um the some of the comments that were made at the beginning of this meeting about the fire site. So, I have
been receiving some concerns from Juliet. Megan, you heard from another person also reached out to me um with concerns about air quality issues during this time that the rubble or debris removal is happening. I
actually have not been to the site myself to understand how prevalent the dust in the air is when this is happening. And I also don't know about this groundwater contamination issue, Jack, that was raised. Somebody was concerned about um that being possible
problem, you know, fallout from the fire. Um, so I'm not an environmental health expert. I'm doing my best to sort of, you know, manage it. We've sent some information out. We've suggested that people wear wa masks if they want to. Um, the other thing that I've done is
I've applied for some air sensors for the town of Ammerst. We and our application was was um accepted and granted. So, we'll be getting five of these purple air air sensors, which are part of that purple air map. You can go on to we'll be putting them around the town. And there is been a request to put
one at Olympia Oaks because of what's going on with the debris and whatnot right now. So that hopefully can be installed in the next week or two is the hope, which I think the community will appreciate. Um, but it's clearly something that folks are concerned
about. You know, air quality in mostly the neighbors of at Olympia Oaks that are right near the fire site. I'm not hearing from other people in town about it. It's a very localized thing. So, I just wondered if anybody had things they wanted to weigh in about that,
especially people who might be more savvy than I about environmental health. >> Um, >> go ahead, Jack. >> Yes, I I would be interested in the air monitors.
Uh, Kiko, >> y >> just just if if you could pass that information uh information along, I'd be interested in that. And then with regard to the groundwater, I think the the the sensitivity of that area is fairly low.
Um with regard to any sort of drinking water supplies, uh i.e. it, you know, lies outside, you know, the immediate watershed of any uh water supplies that serve the town or any private wells. So the the only other
concern would be like a groundwater plume of some sort of dissolved constituents that would cause a vapor intrusion uh concern and there would not be any of that there would not be a plume
generated of that nature from from this incident. So I think that the groundwater issues are are moot uh for the nearby residents especially where especially where the depth to groundwater is probably fairly
deep there. >> Okay. Um now you know if there's wetlands nearby maybe that's another you know sort of issue but even that would be I think uh
you know just be very minor uh the minimus so that that's just my initial thoughts on that. >> Okay that's helpful. Um, and I think the in terms of the air
quality, I I'll I'll definitely I can send to you that if you're specifically interested the application that I um wrote and then the map, the proposed location for the sensors. Um, I think it'll be great to have those data just in general for the town about air quality.
>> Um, and I I don't I'm not sure what else. I think mass D I was told by staff here in town are normally very conservative and if they felt there were immediate risks to health and safety they would have weighed in and done something or asked the town to do
something specific and that hasn't happened. So I think we want to do our best. You know the the rubble remover folks are following the guidelines they're supposed to to keep dust to a minimum. There's a bus stop nearby where kids are waiting for the bus. So we're looking at can we move the bus stop? I've been in touch with the schools
today. Um, you know, recommending that people wear masks if they feel like that's something they need need to do. At this point, I don't know what else to do. Um, I'll keep learning and communicating with residents, but if anybody else has any other thoughts about it, I certainly welcome those.
Yeah, I mean I just I would just say that if there is an odor uh which which is you know entirely possible that um our you know that our sense of smell whatever is it's pretty amazing. Uh but that does not mean so it turns into more
of a public welfare thing in terms of an odor versus any sort of real health threat. But from a public welfare standpoint, you know, is that I think that's part of our jurisdiction. I'm not sure. But yeah, if if it if there's an
odor there, then then again um you know, suppressing it um uh by you know, essentially by the removal I think is going to do the most good. But >> yeah. >> Um >> yeah.
>> Okay. I think the neighbors are happy that the removal is happening. I think they're just concerned about that process and how they can stay as safe as possible during the removal process. So other than avoiding the site and wearing a mask, um if you have to be
near the site, I don't know what else to recommend. >> Yeah, a mask is not necessary. I mean, it's really if you're annoyed by the odor, then that's, you know, personal preference, whatever. And I'm not sure a mask will really help with that, but um
>> yeah. Well, I guess if there's a lot of particulate matter, a mask would help, but I don't know how much particulate matter is going to be kicked up during this process. >> No. >> Okay. Thank you. Um I think that's it for me.
>> Okay. any issues not anticipated within the 48 hours? I I don't think this is going to be an action item, but I just want to acknowledge the number of people who've been concerned about um
uh some of the help, you know, more loss of primary care doctors in the area and whatever the impact of Medicaid uh cuts might be on the robustness of our, you know, local health care. Um,
and I know this is something that there probably isn't any it's a national problem. It's probably not anything that we could do anything about, but um, you know, we've talked about how this has been a concern for people. And I think just to say it out loud that you
know that there's certainly within my friend network I've been hearing a lot of people saying that they're you know providers have are leaving the areas and they're very unsure about uh who's coming to replace
those providers. And I do think we're kind of approaching um a real area shortage of primary care doctors. Uh I was once was completely on top of the pediatric world, but I'm not sure
how that's playing out now. But I think a very high percentage of um the local children, somewhere between 40 and 50% uh are covered by Medicaid. So these cuts may be uh you know quite difficult
in the local pediatric communities. >> Yeah, as you said, I don't know what our action item could be, but I think it's worth getting it on the record and uh I was not aware of it, so I'm glad you brought it up. >> Kiko, did you have any other response? I
just wanted to say that I attended an excellent presentation today um by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation, two very well-informed folks talking not so much about difficulty locating primary care providers in Western Mass, but about the coming cuts to Medicaid through the change in eligibility
requirements and all sorts of things. Hundreds of thousands of people are going to lose coverage. And it was very well done and very informative. And you know it's not exactly relevant to the kind of policymaking that this board would do. But if you all are interested in just getting up to speed on what is
coming and it is a depressing conversation I will tell you we could certainly organize they they were willing to do that talk for others. We could get we could do another webinar and invite more people. I found it helpful just to know it's good to know what's coming. As awful as it as it is, it's good to be informed. So if that's
something that you think might be interesting as board members you would want to attend, I could organize it. I I would be interested in being knowledgeable about that, staying informed. >> I would too. >> I would be interested at watching a
pre-recorded webinar at my leisure um versus having a a scheduled attendance. >> Sure. >> Um live one. So, if they're able to pass that along, that would be great for me. >> I think that's perfect. I can see if that's possible. Yeah.
>> Okay. Great. Uh, I recognize that we are at time. However, I would like to give one more chance uh for public comment for those who are still here. So, if you would like to say anything, please raise your hand and Mahim will let you in.
>> Okay. Laura Romney, please unmute yourself. Laura, you're still muted. >> Okay, I think I'm unmuted now. >> Yes. >> Okay, great. Okay, thanks. Thanks for letting me speak again. So, I just wanted to tell you that I am I'm very
happy with your what you've voted on today. I feel like you are in the absolutely in the right direction as far as um how you're setting this up. I did want to bring a couple of um things to your attention. like you know the the powder that you showed that it was
called like Simba or something like that is what it was labeled that from what I can tell would not qualify under your specific law because what I sent you in that email it had very um had good examples of product where you could
actually go in and see you know labeling and dosing and batch numbers because then that's how you do know you are consuming safe products and uh And you know the reality of it is is you are correct that you could go into your
smoke shops or whatever and find out that every single product is not going to qualify. But that's fine because then it will be up to the vendor to come back to you and say, you know what, I now know what I need to sell and I've come
to you with a good, you know, good product um that I can show that's been tested and you know, there's batches and labeling and all of that and then you can happily sell it on the shelves. So, um you know, because even the drinks
like you were showing me, like I I couldn't tell they were too small. I would have to actually look at those drinks to see if um you know if they were necessarily 70 or if they were you know not not
one thing that is not a 70 product that is a it's a combo it's a cratom cava combo so basically it is not um it is not a product that you can, you know,
that you can say that is pure cratom. It's not. It's a combo product, but it's not 70. Um, another thing is I know I'm just taking looking at my notes here that you had. I know you talked about like educational materials. So, um, in the
email I sent you, I copied you. I copied Jen Mercier. She is one of the vendors that has one of those products down below that I had on the email. She is an excellent vendor that actually um is incredibly involved in education. And I
texted her during this and said, "Hey, do you have educational materials that you could share with Amherst?" And she said, "Absolutely, 100%." and she said she would be happy to work with you to help you kind of identify. She lives very close, by the way. She could help
you identify, you know, what is good product and bad product on your shelves to make sure you guys are in complian with your your new ordinance. But, um, I do, you know, I appreciate I think it's a great idea to only put it in adult stores 21 and up. I I think
that's fine. Um, the other thing is is I will send you the South Hadley ordinance. I do have that because they shared that with me and so I will email that to you all. And um the only other clarification I was going to have was that you were talking about powder
versus leafratom. The reality of it is uh actual like like look like tea leaves type thing is very very rare. Most consumers never um ever use that. Some people, you know, you can
order it places, but that's very rare to find. Most consumers are going to be using the actual powder form or they will use the um natural extract. So, again, I'd have to look at your shelves to know if you even have any actual
natural extracts on your shelves. But again, I'd be more than happy to work with you or Jen Mercier could to identify. You know, it's really easier than you think to say, "Okay, this this product matches that 2% that you're talking about. It I know it sounds
complicated, trust me, but it's actually quite easy once you've seen a couple of products and can easily identify what is is quality product and what is not. So, um I you know, like I say, I'm happy to help you. You've got my number, my email, and you've got Jen Mercier. I'll
send you her phone number as well because again just because she's so close to you guys, it would be a she'd be a great resource to help you guys set this up so that you really honestly you could have the model ordinance and the model way you've set this up for the whole state of Massachusetts because you
guys, you know, even though places like South Hadley and things have got it in place, you know, it's new and so they're still trying to put systems in place and and you you guys could actually have a great a great program in place that is still letting it be available to those
people who really need it, but yet it's safe. >> Thank you, Laura. Thanks. >> Appreciate it. Thanks again so much. >> Thanks. And I think there's another hand. >> Jennifer Marisser, I'm going to ask you to unmute. >> Hi. Can you hear me?
>> Yes. >> Hi. So, I don't um I don't want to be redundant. I just um I did just hop on just again to offer because I am close. I'm just right over the border in New Hampshire. I think I'm less than an hour and I've offered my time before to come
help people um kind of distinguish between a good product and a bad product. And um I just want to say that I'm not I I'm not a paid advocate and although I'm a vendor, I'm a very small insyweensy little vendor and I'm not I'm not actually in a lot of stores, but I
am in a health food store which is very exciting. That would be my only concern with allowing it in um just 21 plus, but I don't think any of your health food stores carry it. So, that's kind of my pipe dream. Um I love the idea of education. I have the essential guide to
understanding. Um I have harm reduction work like forms and sheets and all this stuff that I love handing out to people just so people understand what the product is that they're getting. Um, so
I'm I'm available for questions. I would love to come and visit and go through your stores with you and help you um do stuff. And I also I really appreciate you saying you know that you guys were concerned that you haven't heard from anybody from your community. And the truth is nobody nobody follows politics.
It's really I mean very few people do. So the average consumer unless you're a very outspoken advocate, they don't know. And you know, we can only do so much. There's there's so many things happening all at once where I have
actually called shops before and said, you know, you better get there and you better do something. And it it's hard to get the word out with any amount of time. So, I really applaud you for that um a astute um observation and being
willing to get out there in your community and see what the people want. Um, so yeah, I'm here for again questions. You have my email, Laura Romney t um, forwarded forward my information, I believe. So, thank you.
>> You thank you so much. And there are no other people in the waiting in the attendees room. Um, so with that, uh, we'll make a motion to adjourn the meeting. >> I I just want to say I will be out of the country for the next meeting.
Okay. Okay. >> Me, too. Oh, >> yeah. There. There goes our quorum. So, we will uh we're going to have to end the official meeting uh before we ask and but we will uh figure out how to
probably reschedule it sounds like. >> Okay. Thanks everybody. Thank you Risha. Take care. Thank you. Thank you everyone. No tape.