Burlington Health Board Advances Kratom Rules, Continues Contested Permit
Board of Health · Meeting of August 25, 2026
Burlington Board of Health sets September hearing on local kratom rules as state ban looms. Director Susan Lumenello told the board Massachusetts' temporary order making kratom a Schedule I substance takes effect August 28 and runs a year, prompting inspections to pull it from store shelves. Citizen's-time speaker Lora Romney, of the International Plant and Herbal Alliance, warned the ban wrongly sweeps in "traditional botanical kratom" used for pain relief.
The board voted 4-0-0 to approve a late Keeping of Animals permit renewal for Rita Pisapia of 14 Foster Road, and 3-1-0 to continue a contested 15 County Road permit, whose applicant skipped the meeting despite three prior complaints. Chair Gayle DaMore called public health "often invisible when it is working well."
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 2,557 words
Source: the Board of Health meeting of August 25, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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