thailand

Urgent: Thailand Removes Kratom From Narcotics List

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News update: Thailand should be removing kratom and cannabis from their narcotics list!

Kratom has been a Schedule V narcotic on Thailand’s narcotics list for 76 years despite it being a substance used traditionally in parts of Thai culture. Additionally, the laws surrounding kratom usage, possession, and sale in Thailand are incredibly strict. Southeast Asia, in general, is known for having some of the strictest punishments for illegal drug use and possession.

The changes regarding kratom and cannabis in Thailand aren’t going to happen immediately. Here’s what is going to happen and when it is likely for those new laws to go into effect.

Kratom Removal From Narcotics List

The most important thing in regards to kratom that is happening in Thailand is the removal of kratom from the narcotics list. Kratom was added to this list more than 76 years ago, but that’s is going to be changing soon.

In December 2019, the Justice Minister in Thailand, Somsak Tapsutin, announced that the ministry no longer considers kratom as a narcotic. He has issued a memorandum stating as much alongside the country’s Health Minister.

When making this decision, the ministry cross-referenced with the guidelines laid out by the World Health Organization. These guidelines require that the substance is reasonably addictive, dangerous, and harmful to society to be made illegal.

The Justice Minister shared the ministry’s position that kratom is not addictive or harmful enough to be classified as a narcotic, so they are beginning the process to change their stance. 

The minister even mentioned that kratom is known to have some positive effects. The ministry is interested in those effects being explored with research. Plus, kratom could be provided to the public for medical use as needed.

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Saving More, Making More

This change in laws in Thailand is a sign of changing times. Kratom has been banned for at least 76 years there, and the initial ban caused a huge career train and strained some Thai farmers.

Now, Thai farmers have reason to believe that they might be able to move into a new, old industry: kratom. There’s a sense of optimism about the potential economic boost that opening up the kratom market, even just a little bit, in Thailand might do.

Farmers in countries like Indonesia, where kratom farming and exportation is being phased out, are struggling to figure out what crop they will move on to when the industry completely closes down. That change is going to cause a huge economic problem in an inverse manner to the potential growth of the industry in Thailand.

Justice Minister Somsak Thepsutin has estimated that the government spends about 20,000 baht, almost $700, per case on up to 50,000 kratom cases each year. By lowering the restriction levels and the amount of money that must be spent on each kratom-related case, the government will be able to save a lot of money.

How Will The FDA Respond?

In the past, the FDA has regularly used Thailand’s classification of kratom as narcotic as an example of why kratom should be restricted or banned in the USA. Now that leaders in Thailand are issuing memorandums and changing the status of kratom. What will the FDA say now?

This is something that many people are interested in finding out. In particular, the American Kratom Association leaders, who have been waiting for years to have a sit down meeting with the FDA about kratom, find this news a huge push in the right direction.

Kratom does not grow naturally in America. Organizations often look to countries where it does grow wild to determine how a substance should be used. Thailand could be considered a leader in how to handle kratom laws. Only time will tell if this news affects the FDA’s stance at all.

Narcotics Control Committee Updates

Another organization that will be changing in Thailand is the Narcotics Control Committee. This organization deals with the classification of narcotic substances, control of narcotics laws, and other aspects of narcotics problems in Thailand.

For the past few years, people and other governmental organizations in Thailand have raised some criticisms of the committee and how it is set up.

Recently, the National Legislative Assembly in Thailand voted to change the way that the organization is run and how many members are on the committee.

Paving The Way For Medical Legalization & Research

The legalization of medical marijuana was voted on at the same National Legislative Assembly meeting, and it passed with a full assembly vote for yes. It will take a few months for this change to go into effect. Still, the legalization and regulation of cannabis as a medical substance is going to pave the way for kratom to be used in a similar way.

As the Justice Minister has set up both cannabis and kratom for legalization, the National Assembly will need to vote on kratom next. This vote is expected to happen sometime in March according to the minister, but no official date has been set yet.

If it does pass the NLA vote, it is possible that the respective laws in Thailand will be changed as soon as June.

Why This Matters To You

Though you are using kratom in a country far away from Thailand, it is still possible that this change will end up affecting the products that you are using.

Nothing has been officially decided yet, but Thailand could begin allowing kratom farming and exportation if they want to get into the international kratom market. That would change the supply chain and ultimately would change what kinds of products you can purchase.

Additionally, Thailand is setting up the country for more research into kratom because scientists will be able to study wild-occurring plants with more freedom. This research is incredibly important and plays a large role in the future legality of kratom.

Without this research, it will be hard to convince some states and organizations about the safety of kratom. Research has already been done about kratom, but a huge amount is needed to fully show what kratom is, what it can do, and what it can treat with more specificity than is currently available. 

A Tiny Tour of Thailand

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When we’re looking through our catalog, it’s easy to think of Thailand as nothing more than the place where some of our most popular strains of Kratom originated. Of course, Thailand is much more than that, but not everyone has had the opportunity to learn more about this rich and varied country.

Today, come on a tiny tour of Thailand with Left Coast Kratom! While we can’t all fly there together, we can learn more about what the island is like and what are the most popular things to do when people visit. After all, Thailand is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. 

Whether you want to learn more about Thailand’s beaches or their culture, we’ll get you started on discovering those areas today.

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The Basics of Thailand

Thailand is the 50th largest country in the world. For comparison, it is just a little bit larger than Spain. The island itself spans a wide range of area, so there are differing climates and zones depending on where in the country you are. The northern regions are very different from the tropical regions of the south.

Thailand is home to more than 68 million people and counting! The country is still growing, and big cities are getting even bigger. Thailand is divided into 76 different regions. From tiny villages all the way up to huge cities like Bangkok and Chiang Mai, there are towns of every type and size. Depending on which of these places you visit, you will get a very different experience.

Currency in Thailand is known as the Thai Baht. One USD equals 33 Thai Baht; having a conversion calculator handle when traveling around will be very useful unless you are great at doing math in your head.

Thailand’s Climate & Geography

To understand what a place is really like, we first need to be able to imagine what it would like to be there ourselves! In Thailand’s case, the climate and geography play a big role in that.

Weather Throughout The Year

The specifics of the weather, of course, will differ depending on the exact region that you visit, but the following information about how the change in seasons affects the weather throughout the year should help you to narrow down when you would want to visit the country.

Most people visit Thailand between November and February. This is because the coolest and driest weather of the year (with an average temperature of 29ºC/85°F) happens at this time. In the north of Thailand during this time, the weather at night can get pretty chilly.

April to June is very hot in Thailand, especially if you are not used to the heat. By the end of May, monsoon season will begin and most days will see weather that is wet, wet, wet! The heaviest rains happen in June and August. October is a borderline month; it can be dry or it can be wet depending on the year.

Thailand’s Geographic Features

Thailand has high mountains in the north, and these mountains go down towards the south along the country’s border with Burma. The highest peak is Doi Inthanon, an 8,451-foot mountain. The lowest power is the Gulf of Thailand, which is located at sea level.

The central area of Thailand is a fertile plain that is fed by the 231-mile long Chao Phraya River. Most major cities, historically significant locations, and densely populated areas are located along this river. In a way, it brings life to Thailand. Eventually, the river drains into the area south of Bangkok.

Thailand also has a plateau region known as the Khorat Plateau. Here you can find low, rolling hills as well as shallow lakes. This region drains into the Mekong River system. The end of the land in the southern peninsula becomes overtaken by mangrove swamps. Off the coasts of Thailand, many islands can be found, such as the famous Phuket.

Popular Destinations in Thailand

So, where do people visit when they go to Thailand? Where do Thai people go when they vacation within their own country? There are a lot of wonderful places to see in Thailand, so listing them all would be impossible. We’ll just be mentioning some of the most popular and well-known tourist destinations.

Big City Life

Many tourists, Thai or otherwise, visit the big cities of Bangkok, and Chiang Mai! While the image of Thailand that comes to mind for most when thinking of Thailand is of a beach, much of the excitement and culture of Thailand exists in the cities!

Beaches & The Islands

What’s more wonderful than the opportunity to visit some tropical islands? Not much! In Thailand, you can do just that. From five-star coastal resorts to small, barely populated island beaches, there is a huge range of beach and island activity that you can join.

For the best experience, try to do a little of both. Visit a popular beach near Phuket, and then plan an excursion to a pristine beach in one of Thailand’s many nature reserve areas to see what that is like as well. You’ll probably love them both!

The Mountains & Mountain Towns

As mentioned, the northern regions of Thailand are very mountainous. Visiting the Thai Highlands is an interesting way to see a different side of Thailand. The way of life in mountain villages is quite different. You can hike, explore, and destress.

Other Popular Locations

These three main types of things to do are, of course, not the only things that you can do in Thailand! Here’s a quick run-through of some of the other most popular things to do when visiting this enticing nation:

  • • Phi Phi Islands
  • • Krabi
  • • Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya
  • • Khao Yai National Park
  • • Khao Sok National Park
  • • Ko Chang District
  • • Thani
  • • Hat Yai

These are just a few of the many, many places that we could recommend. Searching through images of Thailand can help you imagine what other areas of this type of tour could include! Ultimately, your own trip to Thailand would be able to include anything that you wanted; you just need to choose!

Kratom’s History in Thailand: What All Kratom Lovers Should Know

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Finding factual information about Kratom online can be a difficult and overwhelming experience. You want to learn more, but you just don’t know what is true and what is not!

Unfortunately, the constantly changing laws surrounding Kratom in both exporting and importing countries can make it hard to keep up with exactly what is going on. In Thailand, for example, the laws have changed several times in just the last few years. 

Still, learning the history of Kratom in Thailand can help you begin to picture more about Kratom’s path through history, how it is today, and where it might go in the future.

How Kratom Grows So Well In Thailand

Kratom is native to Thailand, and that is because the growing conditions that are present in Thailand are just right for this tree! The conditions are nearly perfect as they are hot, moist, and there is a lot of rich soil in the region. All of these factors help Kratom to grow more easily.

If you didn’t know, Kratom is a tree! It’s a deciduous and tropical tree that has grown wild in Thailand for hundreds, if not thousands, of year. Kratom has been used in many forms for a long time in Thailand, but it has only been grown as an export crop since the early 1900s. 

The best conditions for growing Kratom include:

  • • Hot weather
  • • Very wet soil
  • • Very high humidity
  • • Fertile soil

Thailand fits the bill for all of these things, and that is why the plant has grown wild there for so long.

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A History of Kratom Growing & Using In Thailand

It is a common misconception that Kratom is used legally, widely, and publicly in Thailand. While it’s true that there is Kratom use and, historically, Kratom has been used in a number of specific ways, the truth of its legal status in Thailand is a bit more complicated.

Pre-1943

Kratom was more widely used in Thailand prior to 1943, especially throughout the 1800s and early 1900s. People in Thailand used Kratom for various purposes including during shifts on the job and when they were winding down after the workday.

While people were not abusing Kratom and it was largely used for positive means, changes would soon occur to the legality of Kratom in Thailand.

1943 & On

The Thai government created and passed Kratom Act 2486 in 1943. Under this law, Kratom trees were no longer allowed to be planted. This meant that while Kratom was still growing in the wild, anyone who planted a Kratom tree intentionally would be prosecuted. 

By 1979, Kratom was classified as a Category 5 narcotic. While this is the lowest level of ranking in Thailand, it still made the list. Because it is a Cat 5 narcotic, Kratom possession and usage could land you with an arrest, but the police didn’t typically pursue these charges. For that reason, there weren’t a lot of people being arrested because of Kratom use in Thailand.

Is Kratom Currently Legal In Thailand?

The short answer is no; Kratom is not fully legal in Thailand at this time. But there are some specific cases where Kratom can be grown and used – similar to the way that specific laws allow Kratom use in the US.

That doesn’t mean that there haven’t been some attempts to change the rules about Kratom, however. Just as people in America are fighting for positive Kratom legislation, there are those in Thailand who are pushing for very similar things.

After failed attempts in 2004, 2009 and 2013, Kratom was made somewhat legal in 2018. The law passed in that year set up rules for the following:

  • • Kratom import
  • • Kratom export
  • • Kratom production
  • • Kratom use
  • • Possession of medicinal Kratom

For all intents and purposes, Kratom is only legal in Thailand when it is being used for medicinal purposes.

The Origin of Thai Strain Kratom

Most of the Thai strains of Kratom that you see online are not actually grown in Thailand due to the constantly changing laws and precarious legal situation in Thailand. While some Thai Kratom is now being exported as a medicinal product, there isn’t a huge scale of this happening yet. 

So, where do Thai strains actually come from?

Strain names are more about the qualities of a strain than where it is from. While the names originally lined up with regions of specific Kratom types, the names have become more linked to how it the strain’s lineage than where it is grown.

At this time, most Thai strains of Kratom come from neighboring countries with very similar growing conditions. 

Strain names are nothing more than names. While it would be nice if every name perfectly identified where a strain comes from, that is simply not the case in the industry today due to legal issues about Kratom around the world.

Where Kratom Comes From

At this point, there’s a good chance that you’re wondering where your Kratom comes from. Simply put, most Kratom is currently exported from tropical islands including Borneo and Sumatra. 

The places that most Kratom vendors import from are, unsurprisingly, those that can legally export Kratom without having to jump through too many hoops! The laws are constantly changing around the world, however, so you can expect exporting countries to change over time, too.

Kratom in Thailand: A Unique History

Kratom is only legal to use for medicinal regions in Thailand, and that has surely come as a shock to some of our customers! Many imagine that every single person in Thailand enjoys Kratom, and that is simply not the case. Just as everyone here doesn’t use CBD despite its relative legality, the same goes for Thai people and Kratom. 

Thai strains are still being grown around the world so that you can experience the quality of what is typically found in this region. As opinions about Kratom change, it is likely that Thailand may further de-criminalize and regulate the export of Kratom for sale around the world!

3 Things To Know About Countries That Export Kratom

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When you’re learning about Kratom, it can be hard to get clear information about where it comes from, what it is, and what the legalities of it really are. Here at Left Coast Kratom, we devote a lot of time and resources to learning these ins and outs because of how confusing the world of Kratom currently is. And we’re happy to share that information with our beloved customers!

One thing a lot of people want to know more about is where Kratom is grown and exported from before it’s delivered to vendors here in the US.

Does Thai Kratom really come from Thailand? You’ve probably seen conflicting responses, and that’s mostly because there is so little information on the internet from these areas that can be used to clearly answer your questions.

Today, we’ll work to clarify three major points of confusion about countries that export Kratom. 

As your trusted Kratom vendor, we feel it is important for you to have a better understanding of the places where Kratom traditionally comes from, and this is our attempt to help you begin collecting that information!

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1: Kratom Is Illegal To Use In Many Places

Two of the places that people most often envision when they think of Kratom, Thailand and Malaysia, have strict laws about Kratom usage. While historically people have used Kratom in these areas for centuries, laws set up within the last 100 years have made it illegal to use Kratom in most circumstances.

Thailand has made Kratom a schedule 5 narcotic, so users can be heavily fined or jailed if they are caught with Kratom. Recently, however, there are some exceptions for those who are interested in Kratom for its medicinal potential, but you must be registered with the government and buy through approved vendors in order to truly follow these regulations.

In Malaysia, Kratom is included as a Dangerous Substance on their official lists, but there isn’t much active criminalization of Kratom at this time. There have been a few attempts by the government to further criminalize the use of Kratom, but a respect for the traditional and ritual uses of Kratom have prevented any of those acts from being passed.

And while Malaysia can still export some Kratom, Thailand currently cannot export it at all. For that reason, much of the exporting of Kratom is done from Indonesia.

In Indonesia, not as many people have historically used Kratom due to differing opinions about whether or not it is allowed under certain religious laws. It’s currently banned for use in Indonesia but legal to export out of the country. Vendors and advocacy groups in the United States are working hard to make sure Kratom export remains legal in Indonesia.

The key takeaway is this: While exporting countries may be allowed to sell Kratom in various forms and make a profit off of it under their countries’ regulations, that does not always mean that locals can consume Kratom themselves!

2: Most Strains Are Not Grown Where You Think They Are

Another interesting fact that many people do not realize about Kratom is that the name of the strain does not always indicate where that particular batch of Kratom was grown! Strain names are more likely to identify differences in alkaloid content and color than they are to indicate where the Kratom came from.

In fact, due to limitations by the governments of Thailand, Malaysia, and other areas where Kratom thrives, most Kratom today is grown in Indonesia. Specifically, the island regions of Borneo and Sumatra are two of the most prominent exporters of Kratom.

It can feel a bit misleading that the strain names do not match the exporting country, but remember that you are searching for a specific experience, not a specific country, when you are buying various Kratom strains. Strain names often represent the origin of that strain’s particular lineage, not necessarily where the specific tree was grown.

3: Kratom Is Not Used By Everybody

Kratom is used to some extent in all countries that export it. While it is illegal to use domestically in some of those countries, there are definitely still communities of people that choose to continue to use Kratom for various purposes and benefits.

Still, that doesn’t mean that everybody in these countries is using Kratom!

Even as someone who believes that Kratom has positive effects, it is unlikely that you would recommend every single person you know to use it. After all, there are specific reasons that you chose to take Kratom, and those reasons aren’t going to make sense for everyone. 

The same rule applies to countries that export Kratom.

In Thailand and Malaysia, for example, Kratom is largely used by laborers to make it easier to get through a long day of physical work. Additionally, Kratom is used in small, rural villages as a type of traditional ceremony item.

If you were to go to Bangkok and ask the first Thai person on the street if they use Kratom, their answer is more likely to be “no” than anything else.

It’s easy to assume that using Kratom is incredibly commonplace in its countries of origin, but the truth is that Kratom is still used in limited and specific ways there just as it is here. And that distinction is pretty important!

Kratom: Not So Simple

The process of vendors getting Kratom is not so simple, and that is a large part of why there has been so much confusion on the importing side of Kratom use. Where did it come from? What strain is it? How do we know if it’s a safe, clean product?

All of these questions only get more complicated when one has to consider the cultural and legal obligations that exporters have in their own countries, and that can make thinking about the entire Kratom industry a bit of an overwhelming headache!

Reputable vendors will take the time to gain knowledge about exporting countries, to call in experts on laws in each jurisdiction, and to develop strong relationships with trustworthy farmers in those areas. We look forward to industry advances that allow more companies learn about compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices and how to track their products from seed to sale for the safety and comfort of our customers.