House okays bid to legalise consumption of kratom
Kratom is a herb with biodiversity and has good potential to boost the economy and agricultural sector
The Bangkok Post (Thailand)
Thursday, January 28, 2021
Thursday, January 28, 2021
Kratom will soon be removed from the narcotics list and cultivated as a new cash crop, after the House passed an amendment to the 1979 Narcotics Act. The House voted 319 to five to pass the amendment and 326 to five to endorse a 90-day transition. As such it is now due to take effect 90 days after it is published in the Royal Gazette. Prior to the House votes, Justice Minister Somsak Thepsutin told MPs the amendment was aimed at legalising consumption of kratom. Mixing its juices with other narcotic substances, a popular pastime among some youths, will still be illegal, however. Legalising kratom will also change public perception of the plant and people who consume it as a herbal remedy, he said.
