Missouri Attorney General Sues CBD American Shaman Over 7-OH Marketing and Sales

Why it matters

Missouri's Attorney General Catherine Hanaway filed a major enforcement action against CBD American Shaman, the largest 7-OH distributor in the state, alleging the company falsely marketed a synthetic kratom product as nonaddictive and nonintoxicating. The lawsuit targets a company that has faced prior FDA warnings and Department of Justice seizures.

The big picture

7-OH is a synthetic alkaloid extracted and concentrated from kratom—up to 100 times more potent than natural kratom leaf and 13 times more potent than morphine. Unlike natural kratom, concentrated 7-OH acts on the brain like prescription opioids. Missouri poison control calls involving kratom jumped from 24 in 2024 to 75+ in 2025, correlating with the rise of synthetic 7-OH products sold at gas stations, smoke shops, and online without age restrictions. Hanaway called the products deadly: "7-OH is re-addicting people who are trying to recover from opioid addictions…and killing people."

Key findings

• Missouri AG Hanaway sued CBD American Shaman, the state's leading 7-OH supplier, alleging failure to disclose addictive effects
• CBD American Shaman owner Vincent Sanders previously issued a recall in February 2026 for tablets containing more 7-OH than declared
• Justice Department seized thousands of products from American Shaman warehouses in December 2025
• Missouri poison control director Julie Weber: "7-OH is not a harmless herbal product. Its potent alkaloids carry medical risk."
• Pending legislation would regulate kratom and drastically limit 7-OH content to 1,000 parts per million, but faces bipartisan opposition

What they say

\"People trying to get set free from addiction are ending up right back into the same trap,\" said Justin Bumbalough, director of Rolla recovery program Life Changers Missouri. Missouri Attorney General Hanaway stated: \"7-OH is re-addicting people who are trying to recover from opioid addictions – addicting for the first time people who think it's some safe natural product – and killing people. We've got to put a stop to it."

Bottom line

**Missouri's enforcement action against America's largest 7-OH distributor signals aggressive state-level regulatory efforts to curb synthetic kratom sales.**