The Thai House of Representatives voted to remove the kratom plant from the list of narcotics in Thailand and classify it as a controlled substance for medicinal purposes. Kratom, a plant in the coffee family, has been used in traditional medicine and is known for its relaxing effects.
The House agreed to remove kratom from the narcotics list by a 319-7 vote, with 3 abstentions. It is now up for approval by the Senate and will become law ninety days after it is published in the Royal Gazette.
The draft amendment allows the production, import, and export of kratom to those with permission from the Narcotics Control Board. Sales of Kratom will be regulated strictly.
People under the age of 18 and women who are pregnant will not be able to buy kratom. It is also not allowed for minors to sell kratom. Those selling kratom to minors or hiring minors to sell kratom will face up to 200,000 baht in prison for up to 2 years.
Sales of Kratom in schools, dormitories, public parks, theme parks, and online are prohibited. Violators will face up to 40,000 baht in fines. It is also prohibited to advertise and market kratom, and those who violate the ban face up to 6 months in prison and a fine of up to 500,000 baht.
Kratom, along with cannabis and psilocybin mushrooms, is currently classified as a category 5 narcotic. All who produce, import, or export kratom face up to 2 years in prison and a fine of up to 200,000 baht under Thailand's Narcotics Act. Those who own kratom face up to 2 years in prison and up to 40,000 baht in fines. All who possess more than 10 kilograms of kratom face up to 2 years in prison and up to 200,000 baht in fines.
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