Missouri's top legal officer has sounded the alarm on what she describes as a dangerous deception in the sale of so-called natural supplements. Attorney General Catherine Hanaway is shaking up the kratom market, initiating a comprehensive state investigation into the industry's practices that may be putting consumers in harm's way. As reported by the Office of the Attorney General, Hanaway's concern hinges on Missouri residents potentially facing the risks of unapproved and deceptively marketed opioid-like substances.
On the frontline of the scrutiny are six Missouri kratom retailers including MNG 2005 Inc., known by its business name CBD Kratom, and others such as The Green Dragon LLC, both prominent in the state and across the nation. Despite being derived from the tropical Mitragyna speciosa tree, these substances are often found to be spiked with dangerously high levels of 7-hydroxymitragynine, a compound that, much like opioids, reacts with the brain. Alarming reports have linked these products to serious health issues—deaths and dependencies among them, not to mention seizures and liver toxicity—in the state of Missouri.
The Attorney General's Office has served Civil Investigative Demands—essentially a formal request for documentation—directed at these companies to unravel the truth behind these products. Each company is now required to disclose information about their manufacturing processes, labeling, marketing tactics, and the exact ingredients in their products. They are also required to show if they have made any representations about the health effects of these products or provided suggestions for "safe" dosage levels. This investigation seeks to expose whether these companies sold new drugs that are unapproved, in violation of federal or state law, and whether they failed to communicate the presence of psychotropic substances within their products.
"This Office exists to safeguard the public," Hanaway stated emphatically. "When businesses peddle unregulated, addictive substances and hide the risks, they violate the trust of Missouri consumers. We will follow the facts and take whatever action is necessary to ensure that families are protected from products that threaten their health and safety." The sentiments expressed reflect an unwavering commitment from the Attorney General's Office to uphold consumer safety above the interests of an industry beleaguered by questionable practices.
