American Shaman agrees to stop sale of Kratom, 7-OH in Missouri: Harmful substances causing health issues to remain unregulated

7-OH and Kratom, substances that behave similar to opioids, may become less widespread as the largest distributor of the products in Missouri has agreed to stop selling in the state.

Kratom products have become commonplace in the past few years and can be easily found without much in the way of restriction. They could be purchased in gas stations or smoke shops and are extremely addictive. 

Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway announced that American Shaman, based in Kansas, agreed to suspend all sales of Kratom or its alkaloids in Missouri, either in-store or online. The state previously began investigating the company in November of 2025; in March 2026, the state filed suit against American Shaman and other companies connected to it.

The court never found the defendants liable and instead reached a settlement, effectively ending their sales in Missouri. 

What is Kratom?

Kratom is a drug that is advertised to have medicinal uses, often stating that the product has pain-relieving properties, though the FDA disputes this. 

“Consumers might be tempted to use these products to ‘treat’ ailments such as anxiety, mood disorders, pain and opioid withdrawal,” states an FDA report. “But there are no products containing 7-OH that the FDA has found safe and effective in treating those ailments or for any other use.”

Kratom is refined and concentrated into the alkaloid 7-OH, which provides more powerful effects, according to the Mayo Clinic. This alkaloid is highly dangerous, and users run the risk of health issues with use of any kind. An FDA report notes that, since trace amounts of the alkaloid 7-OH are found in Kratom, a large majority of the 7-OH products in circulation are synthetic.

“Kratom alkaloids, especially 7-OH, are dangerous opioids that carry serious health risks. We stepped in to shut down deceptive tactics that put public health in danger. This resolution protects consumers by taking these products off Missouri shelves,” said Attorney General Hanaway. “Retailers who use free samples and misleading marketing to hook consumers, especially those struggling with addiction, will face swift enforcement.”

The drug can be especially dangerous, as the release notes that hospitalizations from Kratom exposure have shot up by 1,200 percent from 2015 to 2025. It also states that a sharp spike in reports to poison control coincided with widespread availability of 7-OH. 7-OH and its alkaloids can be found in tablets but also in the form of gummies or small shots. 

Effects of Kratom

According to the DEA, Kratom acts as a stimulant at low doses, leading to alertness, physical energy and talkativeness. In elevated doses, the drug has the opposite effect, leading to sedative reactions. 

Despite advertising as a holistic treatment for pain, insomnia, and many other ailments, Kratom and its alkaloids can have immense health effects on the human body. According to the DEA, Kratom can cause itching, nausea, sweating, dry mouth, constipation, increased urination, tachycardia, vomiting, drowsiness, or loss of appetite. Users also reported experiencing anorexia, weight loss, insomnia, hepatotoxicity, seizures and hallucinations. 

Instances of death from ingestion of 7-OH have been reported, though no concrete evidence exists. Often, whenever a death is reported to have been caused by 7-OH, other substances are present in the body, as well.

Both Kratom and its alkaloids have been noted as addictive, according to multiple sources at the state and federal levels. This is made worse by the fact that producers' websites and in-store sellers offer free samples, which could serve to get customers hooked. 

What now for the product

American Shaman will be off the shelves for the time being and can expect to face a $5 million penalty if they breach their agreement with the attorney general, but that doesn’t mean Kratom is off the table completely in Missouri. 

Other manufacturers still ship into Missouri, but no action has yet been introduced to regulate or remove the substance from stores. Missouri lawmakers have previously discussed a statewide ban on 7-OH products, but no effort has yet come to fruition. 

Federally, Kratom and its alkaloids are still unregulated and not controlled under the Controlled Substances Act; the DEA has listed Kratom as a drug and chemical of concern.