Senator Marshall Applauds Federal Seizure of 73,000 Dangerous 7-OH Products in Kansas City

Kansas City – On Tuesday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced joint actions that resulted in the seizure of approximately 73,000 units of 7-OH products at three different warehouse locations in the Kansas City region.

“I applaud our federal partners for moving swiftly to pull these dangerous, even deadly, 7-OH products off the market. This Administration is taking the health and safety of Americans seriously – and today’s action proves that, despite repeated warnings, some companies are still choosing to peddle illegal, lethal substances,” said Senator Marshall. “I’ve worked closely with the Administration to ban 7-OH products, and I won’t stop pushing until every one of these items is off store shelves and out of our communities.”

Background:

• In October, Senator Marshall was in Kansas City to tour Clinical Reference Labs. Following his tour, he led a letter to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Administrator Terrence Cole, asking him to take action and emergency schedule 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), and related products, as Schedule I controlled substances.
• In June 2025, Senator Marshall sent a letter to FDA Commissioner Makary urging the agency to act on 7-OH’s growing prevalence in over-the-counter products. The letter called for
  • A formal definition of “kratom” in interstate commerce is needed to ensure that only the natural preparation is under this definition and any synthetic versions are not mistaken for the natural product.
  • Regulation of 7-OH products due to the deceptive marketing companies use to target children and the dangers that these products pose. 
• 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) is a synthetic derivative of the naturally occurring kratom plant compound. While kratom itself has been sold as a natural supplement, 7-OH is far more potent and toxic, acting on the same receptors as opioids and carrying a high potential for abuse and dependency.
  • Laboratory models show the compound is approximately 13 times more powerful than morphine in its effects on opioid receptors.