Hadley Health Board Advances Synthetic Drug Ban
Board of Health · Meeting of September 10, 2026
Hadley Board of Health sets up October vote on synthetic cannabinoid ban. Health Department Director Ben Lipham told the board a draft regulation, based on model language from the Massachusetts Association of Health Boards, is nearly final and will require a public hearing before an October 8 vote. Member Margaret Mastrangelo flagged the roughly $35-an-hour town nurse rate as a likely reason two candidates fell through, suggesting the board consider cutting the position to five hours weekly to raise the rate.
Member Emma Dragon volunteered to represent the board at the Hadley Public Library trustees' meeting on a proposed Naloxone box and sharps-container program, the latter potentially funded through a Tapestry Health grant at no cost to the town. Lipham said West Nile virus risk has been raised to moderate across most of Massachusetts, with no positive mosquito samples yet in Hadley, and that rabies quarantines have risen this summer. The board voted unanimously to approve its prior minutes and to adjourn.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 2,620 words
Source: the Board of Health meeting of September 10, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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