Missouri is suing a Kansas City-based kratom company, claiming it’s peddling a “deadly” synthetic opioid to unsuspecting consumers.

Attorney General Catherine Hanaway announced the lawsuit Tuesday against companies related to American Shaman. The suit follows a months-long investigation into the manufacturing and distribution of 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH).

“7-OH put simply is a synthetic opioid that is being distributed over the counter in Missouri. We believe it is deadly,” Hanaway said during a press conference. “The FDA found the drug’s suppressive effects on respiratory and coronary systems are three times greater than morphine.”

Hanaway called out the company’s practice of giving away free samples of the intoxicating substance to grow a following.

Health officials say the lack of regulation allows these products to flood gas stations without safety checks. Missouri Poison Center Director Julie Weber says the chemical composition often differs from what’s on the label.

“The 2025 spike is what really brought attention,” Weber said. She reported cases managed by the center jumped from 24 in 2024 to more than 75 in 2025.

Weber says the packaging is often made appealing to children by mimicking store-bought candies and drinks.

“We don’t need another lethal substance on the streets,” Lake Saint Louis Police Chief Chris DiGiuseppi said. “This is a substance that can be sold anywhere, to anyone, in our gas stations and convenience stores, to adults or children.”

Nine kratom-related deaths were reported by the medical examiner in St. Charles County alone last year.

​​”From our ongoing visits to Jefferson City to educate legislators, we’ve concluded that the kratom industry is connected to yet another multimillion-dollar operation that continues to make money at the expense of our community members; similar to illicit narcotics, this hurts people in addiction,” DiGiuseppi said.

Pastor Justin Bumbalo

Those working in addiction recovery say the drug is particularly dangerous for people trying to get sober. Life Changers Executive Director and Pastor Justin Bumbalo says many people “swap addictions” thinking 7-OH is a safe alternative.

“Instead of a graduation date, he met his death date that day,” Bumbalo said, recounting a story of a man in his program who overdosed on the night he was supposed to graduate.

“The very thing that he was trying to get away from is the very thing that tried to kill him by doing the 7-OH synthetic opioids,” Bumbalo said.

Shutting down the “drug dens”

Hanaway wants a judge to label American Shaman facilities as “drug den” public nuisances to shut them down. Even though it wouldn’t clear store shelves right away, the move would eventually choke off the supply by stopping the company from shipping new 7-OH products.

Hanaway is also calling on lawmakers in Jefferson City to take action. Hanaway told reporters she feels strongly the Missouri legislature should ban 7-OH. 

“The evidence is overwhelming 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,” Hanaway said. She clarified she hasn’t reached a conclusion on kratom itself yet, but insists the state must put a stop to 7-OH.