Good news for Kratom lovers with 135 villages across the country where the herbal drug is now legal. Wissanu Krea-ngam the Deputy Prime Minister was the president in a meeting at the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) on 13 November 2020. Anucha Nakasai The Minister to the Office of the Prime Minister, Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin, Public health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, and other related officials also joined in the meeting.
The importance of this meeting is to update on the draft process of the new Narcotics Act. The final goal is to remove Kratom from category 5 narcotics. The new Kratom Act is currently also in the drafting process. The main focus is to control regulations on the leaf including protecting children and youth from access to the leaf and to protect Kratom from being used for wrong purposes. The cabinet has approved the purpose and the draft is awaiting evaluation from the Office of the Juridical Council.
The meeting has approved the use of Kratom in 135 villages/communities in 10 provinces. The list of villages and communities is as follows,
Nonthaburi Province – Ban Klong 1 Moo 10 in Sai Yai Sub-district, Sai Noi District.
Pathumthani Province – Moo 12 in Klong 3, Khlong Luang District.
Nakhon Si Thammarat Province – 8 villages in Klong Saem Tham Pan Rai District.
Krabi Province – 9 villages in Khao Din sub-district, Khao Panom District.
Phang Nga Province – 7 villages in Lam Phu Sub-district, Tai Muang District.
Surat Thani Province – 1 village and 25 communities in Perm Pun Sap, Thing Tao Mai, Nam Pu Klong Prap, Kuan Suban, Kuansri, Tha Chi, Lamphun, Thung Tai, Prupri, Na Sarn, and Ban Na Sarn District.
Ranong Province – 5 villages in La Un Nue Sub-district, La Un District.
Chumphon Province – 1 village in Bang Mak Sub-district, Chumphon City District.
Trang Province – 4 villages in Tao Sub-district, Huay Yod District.
Patthalung Province – Lamsit Sub-district, Srinakarin District.
These villages and communities are chosen based on the history of the area, where Kratom has been in use since the beginning of the community. Those in the area must be prepared to keep an eye out for wrong Kratom use and locals must agree with the use and growing of kratom in the area.
