Bellingham Board of Health bans synthetic kratom sales, effective April 8

BELLINGHAM -- April 7, 2026, Bellingham bans synthetic kratom sales effective April 8 after unanimous Board of Health vote. The Board of Health voted 5-0 on April 7 to adopt a regulation prohibiting the manufacture, sale, and distribution of synthetic kratom, synthetically derived variants, and products containing elevated levels of 7-hydroxymitragynine, with the rule taking effect the following day. No public comment was received at the scheduled public hearing. Staff member Kelsey, who developed the regulation over several months, said enforcement would begin educationally, informing permit holders before issuing formal violations, and that outreach would extend beyond tobacco permit holders to retail food establishments. Board Chair Richard praised the effort: "This was definitely a new thing for us, and it was a great presentation." The board also renewed the Swan Pond upper-pool lifeguard variance 5-0 and voted to hold a single Board of Health meeting in May, on May 12, avoiding a conflict with the town's annual election on May 19.