Burlington Board of Health votes to ban sale of kratom
Board of Health · Meeting of September 8, 2026
Burlington Board of Health bans kratom sales after mothers describe sons' deaths. The board voted unanimously to adopt a local regulation restricting the manufacture, sale and distribution of kratom, layering a permanent town ban atop a one-year state emergency order set to expire August 28, 2027. Susan Ebert told the board her 22-year-old son Matthew died in 2021 from whole-leaf kratom powder; Holly Trubel said her 25-year-old son, Tyrell, died in February 2024 after drinking a kratom seltzer marketed as "caffeine free, alcohol free, sugar free." Member Dr.
Ed Weiner, citing CDC data, said 91 deaths were linked to kratom in 2019 alone. The board strengthened the draft penalty from a $100 first-offense fine to $1,000 per violation, with permit suspensions of seven and 30 days for repeat offenses. Separately, the board renewed a keeping-of-animals permit for two chickens and two ducks at 15 County Road.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 2,310 words
Source: the Board of Health meeting of September 8, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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