Shawn Ryan Show #243 Steve Robinson - What If China’s Secret Weapon Was Sold at Your Local Gas Station?
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Oct 9, 2025 
Steve Robinson, Editor-in-Chief of The Maine Wire and investigative journalist, dives into the alarming world of Chinese organized crime in the U.S. He reveals how illicit operations, particularly in the cannabis market, are tied to transnational crime syndicates. Robinson discusses the dangers of a new synthetic drug, 7-OH, its link to kratom, and how it infiltrates gas stations. He details the challenges local law enforcement face in combating these issues and advocates for stronger regulations to close loopholes that allow these crimes to thrive.
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Regulation Lags Behind Synthetic Drug Innovation
- Synthetic drug markets evolve faster than regulators can respond, creating persistent gaps.
- New molecules are iteratively tweaked to evade bans and often cause worse health effects.
From Tree To 'Gas-Station' Opioid
- Steve traced 7-OH back to a Southeast Asian tree and detailed a lab process that produces a potent synthetic opioid.
- He described finding flavored drink mixes sold as containing milligrams of pure 7-OH at convenience stores.
Retail Staff Upsell Potent 7-OH Products
- Steve immediately found 7-OH products in local stores, including flavored tablets labeled with milligram doses.
- Store workers sometimes knowingly upsold higher doses and cross-promoted other products.
