Missouri Attorney General Stops American Shaman Kratom Sales

Catherine Hanaway, the Attorney General of Missouri, announced Thursday that Shaman Botanicals, LLC (doing business as American Shaman) has agreed to immediately suspend all in-state sales of kratom and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH). The agreement resolves litigation initiated in March alleging that the state's largest kratom distributor used deceptive marketing and free samples to hook consumers.

Under the terms of the settlement, American Shaman must cease all online and in-store sales to Missouri consumers, remove products from shelves within 90 days, and dismantle Missouri-targeted advertising, including billboards, within 30 days. The agreement prohibits founder Vince Sanders from creating new franchises to sell kratom under different names or altering chemical compounds to evade the deal. Any breach of these terms may result in a $5 million penalty.

Hanaway characterized 7-OH as a dangerous opioid, citing reports linking the synthetic substance to at least 197 deaths in Missouri and warnings from the Food and Drug Administration. The Attorney General stated her intention to lobby the state legislature for a full ban on kratom next year, noting that neighboring Kansas will implement a total ban starting July 1.