Global Kratom Coalition Commends Missouri AG’s Lawsuit Against Vince Sanders’ American Shaman

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Kansas City's American Shaman is fuelling synthetic opioid epidemic

WASHINGTON, DC, March 31, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- The Global Kratom Coalition (GKC) today commended the office of Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway for filing a new lawsuit against CBD American Shaman and its affiliated companies aimed at cracking down on their manufacture, distribution, and retail sale of dangerous, lab-made novel products like concentrated synthetic 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH). Attorney General Hanaway was clear that her office’s focus is on concentrated synthetic 7-OH, not natural kratom leaf.

The petition, filed in collaboration with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) in the Circuit Court of Jackson County, accuses CBD American Shaman of marketing its drugs in violation of state and federal law and failing to disclose their risks. 

This lawsuit comes after the Missouri Attorney General’s office launched an investigation last year into concentrated synthetic 7-OH and issued civil investigative demands to CBD American Shaman.

In November 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) targeted two facilities in western Missouri owned by Vince Sanders, CBD American Shaman’s founder and president, and confiscated thousands of concentrated synthetic 7-OH opioid products. 

In a separate raid in December 2025, the FDA coordinated with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to seize roughly 73,000 units of lab-made opioid products from three Missouri warehouses, including facilities operated by Sanders.

Through his Shaman Botanicals, LLC and its affiliate, CBD American Shaman, Sanders sits atop a sprawling, multimillion-dollar manufacturing and distribution network specializing in concentrated synthetic 7-OH products. 

The widespread availability of concentrated synthetic 7-OH prompted the FDA in July 2025 to recommend it for classification as a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act. 

At the time of the agency’s announcement, FDA officials repeatedly clarified that their recommendation did not apply to natural kratom leaf — which contains only trace amounts (less than 0.04 percent by weight) of the 7-OH alkaloid, presents minimal health concerns, and is consumed by 23 million Americans. Attorney General Hanaway’s focus on CBD American Shaman and concentrated synthetic 7-OH aligns with this important federal distinction.

Unlike natural kratom leaf, concentrated synthetic 7-OH products act like powerful prescription opioids, posing significant risks of dependence, overdose, and respiratory suppression. Researchers have found them to be up to  13 times more potent than morphine.

The Global Kratom Coalition is an alliance of natural kratom consumers, experts, and industry leaders dedicated to protecting access to natural leaf kratom while advancing scientific research, driving consumer education, and developing robust regulations to protect consumers. To learn more about the Global Kratom Coalition and its mission, visit globalkratomcoalition.org.

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SOURCE: Global Kratom Coalition

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