Kratom headed for limited May ‘comeback’

By The Nation

 

Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin

 

Kratom, the indigenous plant whose leaves have been used in traditional medicine since at least the early 19th century and were once served to welcome guests into the home, could be removed from the narcotics list as early as May.

 

Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin said on Wednesday (March 4) that his people had speeded the process of amending the 1979 Narcotics Act to effect the change and sent a draft to the Council of State for consideration.

 

“If the council and Cabinet approve the amendment, we will propose it in the House of Representatives around May,” he said.

 

“We can’t specify a time because that’s up to the legal mechanism, but meanwhile, any change in the law approved by the Cabinet can be proposed to the Senate as well.”

 

Somsak said he had asked the Office of the Narcotics Control Board to designate areas where the possession and consumption of kratom would be lawful under the 1979 Narcotics Act and its 2019 amended version.

 

“We have also speeded up proposed draft ministerial regulations on methods and conditions for consumption and possession under the authority of this ministry and the Food and Drug Administration.”

 

Public hearings on the proposal will be held at Bangkok’s Century Park Hotel on Friday and Saturday, Somsak said.

 

Thailand banned kratom in 1943 in response to a rise in its popularity when the cost of opium soared as the government battled to gain control of the opium market. 

 

In 1979 it classed kratom and marijuana as Category V narcotics, but in 2018, Thailand became the first Southeast Asian country to legalise the use of kratom for medical purposes.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30383364

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-03-04

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1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

Thailand banned kratom in 1943 in response to a rise in its popularity when the cost of opium soared as the government battled to gain control of the opium market. 

I'm surprised they haven't ban coffee considering its popularity and addictiveness.  Kratom has about the "bang" of a triple-shot latte and isn't as addictive.  Really, banning coffee would be a statist control-freaks dream come true.  Think of all the people that could be throw into jail.

12 minutes ago, Buba Ho Tep said:

I'm surprised they haven't ban coffee considering its popularity and addictiveness.  Kratom has about the "bang" of a triple-shot latte and isn't as addictive.  Really, banning coffee would be a statist control-freaks dream come true.  Think of all the people that could be throw into jail.

Coffee doesn't help smoothing opioids withrawal but kratom do. It was getting in the way of the opium trade. 

Edited March 4, 20206 yr by Tayaout

1 hour ago, Buba Ho Tep said:

I'm surprised they haven't ban coffee considering its popularity and addictiveness.  Kratom has about the "bang" of a triple-shot latte and isn't as addictive.  Really, banning coffee would be a statist control-freaks dream come true.  Think of all the people that could be throw into jail.

The powers that be love coffee and the effects it has on people....Coffee has no special tax or regulation on it in virtually any country in the world...Why not?.....Why have politicians not taxed coffee?....Think about it......Politicians love taxes....They love to tax the heck out of alcohol, tobacco,and cannabis, and I am sure kratom too....But they will not tax coffee at all, not even a little,any where...Why not?....Very Strange.....Now even Salt and Sugar are up for some good old fashioned taxing but coffee? absolutely no chance of coffee getting taxed... 

 

 

Edited March 4, 20206 yr by fforest1

11 hours ago, Buba Ho Tep said:

Think of all the people that could be throw into jail.

Think of all the people that could be intimidated into paying a bribe, rather than into jail.  TIT