Missouri attorney general sues kratom company over alleged illegal opioid sales
FOX23 News at 9 p.m
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KBSI) — Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway has filed a lawsuit against Relax Relief Rejuvenate Trading LLC, also known as EDP Kratom, accusing the company of unlawfully manufacturing and selling kratom-derived opioid products in Missouri.
The lawsuit, filed in collaboration with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, alleges the company illegally markets and sells products containing Mitragynine, 7-hydroxymitragynine, known as 7-OH, and dihydro-7-hydroxymitragynine, known as MGM-15.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, studies show MGM-15 is a synthetic derivative of 7-OH and is approximately 15 times more potent than morphine.
Officials said the products are commonly sold in Missouri gas stations, smoke shops and online without adequate safety testing, regulatory approval or age verification.
“This is another step in our ongoing crackdown on kratom manufacturers who flout the law and try to justify endangering Missourians in the name of profit,” Hanaway said in a statement.
The lawsuit alleges EDP Kratom failed to properly disclose dangerous active ingredients, downplayed addiction and withdrawal risks, and failed to warn consumers about overdose dangers.
The Attorney General’s Office also accused the company of sending free 7-OH products to consumers known to have addictions to the substances, which officials said helped maintain a cycle of dependency.
“Although 7-hydroxy from kratom is often promoted as a natural or harmless substance, its risks are very real,” said Dr. Heidi Miller, chief medical officer for DHSS.
Miller said the products can lead to dependency, dangerous drug interactions and life-threatening toxicity.
The lawsuit follows a June 2025 warning letter from the FDA informing EDP Kratom that distributing products containing 7-OH violated federal law. State officials also launched an investigation into the company later that year.
The Attorney General’s Office is asking the court to declare the company’s actions violate the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act, block future sales and advertising of the products, and impose penalties of up to $1,000 per violation.
Officials said the lawsuit is the second legal action tied to the Attorney General’s ongoing investigations into kratom-related products sold across Missouri.
Consumers who believe they were harmed by the products are encouraged to contact the Missouri Attorney General’s Consumer Protection hotline at 800-392-8222 or file a complaint online through the Attorney General’s Office.
