Missouri attorney general asks court to stop American Shaman from selling 7-OH
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Missouri AG sues to bar American Shaman selling 7‑OH
- Lawsuit alleges unapproved drugs, deceptive sampling and operation of 'drug dens'
- State seeks injunctions and up to $1,000 per violation
Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway is seeking to prevent American Shaman, the Kansas City company at the forefront of a sprawling gray market, from selling an opioid that’s available at gas stations and smoke shops across the country.
In a press conference on Tuesday, Hanaway announced she filed a lawsuit against American Shaman and connected businesses over its sale of 7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH, an opioid derived from kratom tree leaves.
Hanaway’s announcement comes months after she launched investigations into kratom companies in Missouri. In December, federal authorities seized thousands of products from American Shaman’s warehouse in Kansas City.
She said, “7-OH, put simply, is a synthetic opioid that is being distributed over the counter in Missouri. We believe it is deadly.”
In a 30-page petition filed in Jackson County Circuit Court, Hanaway alleges the company is violating the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act by selling unapproved drugs and adulterated food products. Also, offering free samples is deceptive marketing, due to evidence that 7-OH is addictive.
Hanaway also said that the company is violating state health laws for bringing unapproved drugs to market without regulatory approvals. The lawsuit alleges that the company’s warehouse and retail locations that sell 7-OH meet the statutory definition of “drug dens.”
The state is asking a Jackson County judge to prohibit American Shaman from advertising or selling any kratom or 7-OH products, and is seeking up to $1,000 for each violation of the state’s merchandising practices act.
Vince Sanders, CEO of American Shaman, said in a written statement that his company will defend itself in court.
“We are aware that the Missouri Attorney General has filed a lawsuit, and we take the matter seriously,” Sanders said. “We have consistently maintained that our products are safe, and we have been transparent in sharing the scientific support and quality information behind them.”
In an assessment of 7-OH, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said that the drug demonstrates “pharmacological characteristics that define classical opioids like morphine and fentanyl.”
Julie Weber, director of the Missouri Poison Center, said her office has seen an increasing number of kratom poisonings and symptoms of withdrawal over the past year.
“The 2025 spike is what really brought attention. In 2024, there were 24 cases, and that has gone up to more than 75 in 2025,” Weber said. “7-OH is not a harmless herbal product.”
Sanders said that his company may be one of the country’s largest producers of 7-OH. Sanders told The Star his 7-OH product was “significantly larger” than his $100 million a year cannabis business.
The sudden proliferation of 7-OH has made it difficult for lawmakers to keep up. Eight states currently ban all kratom, including 7-OH, according to the Global Kratom Coalition, a pro-kratom group that supports regulations and crackdowns on synthetic 7-OH.
In July, the Food and Drug Administration announced that it would recommend 7-OH to be added to the list of Schedule 1 Controlled Substances, which are considered to have high potential for abuse and no accepted medical uses.
The Kansas City Council passed an ordinance in February banning the sale of 7-OH. Missouri lawmakers are considering bills that would either ban or regulate 7-OH.
