Lawsuits Claim Kratom 7-OH Alkaloids Are Highly Addictive

Kratom lawsuits continue to be filed as local governments take action to ban the sale and consumption of kratom supplements.

A series of lawsuits are moving forward in federal courts nationwide, targeting the sale of artificially derived 7-OH kratom products that critics say are being marketed as safe and natural supplements, despite their highly addictive properties.

Kratom is a tropical plant native to Southeast Asia, where it has been used for centuries for its stimulant and pain-relieving effects. In the United States, however, its rise in popularity is more recent, and many consumers are unaware that it contains powerful alkaloids with addictive potential. 

Among the most concerning are 7-Hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) and Pseudoindoxyl, compounds that bind to mu-opioid receptors in the brain and produce euphoric effects. Over time, users often require increasingly higher doses to achieve the same response, raising significant concerns about dependence and abuse.

These risks have become a central issue in a series of kratom lawsuits, with plaintiffs alleging that companies are concealing the dangers of 7-OH while marketing it as a safe, plant-based supplement. The complaints claim that consumers were misled about the drug-like effects of these compounds and left vulnerable to addiction and withdrawal.

These claims were further validated earlier this year when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended against using 7-OH products in a consumer update, reminding the public that none are FDA-approved. The agency also warned that stopping kratom in any form may trigger severe withdrawal symptoms similar to opioid use, including muscle pain, diarrhea, chills, loss of appetite, spasms, runny nose and restless legs.

In one such class action complaint (PDF) brought by Matthew Kernisky in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on September 19, the lawsuit names Kama Distribution LLC as a defendant.

Kernisky claims that Kama’s Pseudoindoxyl and 7-OH tablets contain levels of the alkaloid substances that could be three to five times or even 10 times more potent than morphine, respectively.

The lawsuit goes on to indicate that raw Kratom does not possess 7-OH or Pseudoindoxyl in great quantities, yet the plant can still produce intoxicating effects and withdrawal symptoms when consumed in large amounts.

As a result, when highly refined mu-opioid activators like 7-OH or Pseudoindoxyl are consumed, the user’s withdrawal symptoms can be significantly worse. However, the lawsuit contends that Kama Distribution does not disclose this danger anywhere on the product’s packaging.

Kernisky raises allegations of violation of various sections of New York’s General Business Law, fraud by omission and unjust enrichment. He is seeking certification of his complaint for class action status, with a special New York subclass, in addition to actual, consequential, punitive and statutory damages.

7-OH Kratom Tablet Lawsuits

In addition to Kernisky’s complaint, a separate complaint (PDF) was filed by Edward Zachary Korte and Steven Ray in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri on September 18, naming CBD American Shaman LLC, Stephen Vincent Sanders II, SVS Enterprises LLC, Shaman Botanicals and various unnamed parties as defendants.

Like Kernisky, Korte and Ray allege that American Shaman’s “Advanced Alkaloid” tablets contain 7-OH, which they claim the defendants have consistently misrepresented as an herbal remedy or dietary supplement, despite in fact being a highly addictive substance along the lines of many opioids.

In addition, the complaint indicates that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent a warning letter to Shaman Botanicals on June 25, 2025, concerning how delivery of their products across state lines may be a violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. According to Korte and Ray, the FDA also noted in its letter that 7-OH can produce opioid-like effects, has not been evaluated for safety, and has been the subject of numerous adverse event reports.

Korte and Ray raise allegations of RICO violations, in addition to violations of Kansas and Missouri state laws, as well as unjust enrichment. They too are seeking class action certification for their lawsuit with Kansas and Missouri subclasses, in addition to statutory, punitive and treble damages.

Government Action Against Kratom

As the number of kratom lawsuits in federal courts continue to increase, some localities have begun taking action against the substance. A report published in the Miami Herald earlier this month, indicates that two separate Florida counties have taken moves to ban the substance.

After Sarasota County banned kratom all the way back in 2014, Manatee County has recently taken moves to follow suit.

Although Manatee County has not yet banned the substance, a proposal to research implementing a ban similar to Sarasota County’s passed the county commissioners in a 4-3 vote.

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