“Gas Station Heroin” Distributors, Campaign Contributors

Well, this is quite the kerfuffle within the Republican world, Senate President Ty Masterson and Philip Sarnecki (two of my opponents in the governor’s race), have taken maximum contributions from “gas station heroin” kratom kingdom bigwigs. Welcome to the world of 7-OH laced candy land products sold in many retail outlets – including gas stations – and are wildly popular because people think they are purchasing a plant based, natural ingredient product.

So, what is 7-OH?  It is a highly concentrated synthesized kratom (a leaf from a S.E. Asian tree) alkaloid which popped up in 2024, purportedly developed by Vince Sanders, President of CBD American Shaman – December 31, 2025 contributor to Senate President Ty Masterson. The twist in the story is that the 2026 Kansas State Legislature passed legislation (signed by Governor Kelly) reclassifying 7-OH as a Schedule 1 controlled substance alongside heroin and LSD. Let that soak in, the Kansas Senate President took the maximum contribution from a company whose product is now listed with heroin and LSD???

Meanwhile, in December 2025, Philip Sarnecki received an $8,000 in-kind campaign contribution for catering and venue rental from kratom wholesaler Eyal David Gabbay and his wife, Maya Gabbay, according to a 5/4/2026 report from the K.C. Star. Federal court documents also show that Eyal David Gabbay and the company he works for, Jopen, are named as defendants in ongoing kratom-linked wrongful death lawsuits in Louisiana and Tennessee.

So to be clear: Philip Sarnecki accepted the maximum campaign contribution from an individual currently named as a defendant in wrongful death litigation tied to kratom.

Back to 7-OH, which studies indicate is 500 times more potent than the natural 7-OH level in a kratom leaf.  And this from Marty Makary, Federal Commissioner of Food and Drugs,…“one study in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry found that 7-OH is 13 times more potent than morphine. Aside from addictions, 7-OH side effects include withdrawal symptoms, insomnia and anxiety, and seizures and fatal respiratory depression.”

Folks this is serious stuff, which our children may purchase until July 1^st in Kansas – date of official reclassification – and is being manufactured right here in River City, or rather Riverside. That is correct, a major drug processing plant is right smack dab in our backyard.

However, I digress, obviously the elephant (or is it RINO?) in the room is that two Republican gubernatorial candidates, Ty Masterson and Philip Sarnecki, each took the maximum contribution of $8,000 from kingpins of this industry.  And according to reports neither plan to return the contributions. Wow, and I thought if selling your soul, the price tag would be much higher.

Here is a link to a 2025 article, quite detailed on the history: https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article311767920.html#newshunter

And the link to the K.C. Star and Wichita Eagle report on Gas Station Heroin kingpin contributors to Ty Masterson and Philip Sarnecki, https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article315593958.html

God Bless, Keep your Eyes on Jesus!!!

Charlotte O’Hara
Republican for Kansas Governor, 2026