California Takes Legal Action Against Kratom Manufacturer

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the California Attorney General’s Office have filed a legal complaint in San Diego Superior Court against Ashlynn Marketing Group, Inc., a Santee-based manufacturer of kratom products. The company, which does business as Krave, Krave Kratom, and Krave Botanicals, is accused of violating state and federal laws by continuing to manufacture and distribute kratom materials despite a prior state embargo.

The legal action follows an inspection of the company’s facility conducted last year. According to the complaint, the CDPH issued an embargo at that time, which prohibited the sale and distribution of all kratom materials located on the premises. However, subsequent visits by investigators revealed evidence that the embargoed products had been moved, tampered with and repackaged, and that the company continued to manufacture and distribute the materials.

Public Health Risks and Legal Mandates

The state’s pursuit of Ashlynn Marketing Group is part of a broader crackdown on kratom and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), a potent opioid derived from the kratom plant. The CDPH has declared that items containing these substances are illegal to sell or manufacture for consumption in California. The agency has linked these products to a series of recent overdose deaths, including six reported in Los Angeles County since April 2025.

“CDPH is pursuing legal action because Ashlynn’s continued manufacture and sale of these products pose a clear and preventable public-health risk and violates state and federal law.”

Dr. Erica Pan, CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer

The complaint seeks a court order to prohibit any further manufacture and distribution of the products, the total destruction of all embargoed materials, and the imposition of civil penalties against the company.

Regulatory Context and Enforcement

The enforcement action against Krave aligns with a statewide initiative to remove illicit supplements from the market. On October 24, 2025, the CDPH issued a consumer warning stating that kratom and 7-OH products cannot be lawfully marketed in the United States as food additives, dietary supplements, or drug products. The agency noted that claims regarding the ability of these products to treat anxiety, pain, or opioid withdrawal are unproven.

State officials have identified various forms of these products appearing in gas stations, smoke shops, and online retailers, including:

• Beverages and shots
• Powders and capsules
• Tablets and gummies

The state has also implemented widespread retail inspections to ensure compliance. In March 2026, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that agents from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control had visited thousands of retailers. The Governor’s office reported that 95% of those stores were compliant with state guidance, resulting in the removal of 3,308 illicit products from shelves within a three-week period.

Public health officials continue to warn that the use of these substances can lead to severe side effects, including seizures, insomnia, anxiety, and fatal respiratory depression. As part of its safety guidance, the CDPH recommends that Californians carry naloxone, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses, which is available over-the-counter via CalRx for $22.50 per twin pack.