Thailand mulls removal of “Kratom” from narcotics list

BANGKOK, September 7 (TNA) -Thailand's Office of the Narcotic Control Board (ONCB) will hold a meeting with concerned parties on September 10 to discuss the possibility of removing “Kratom” from the country's narcotics list. ONCB Secretary-General Pongsapat Pongcharoen told journalists on Saturday that, apart from the issue, ONCB officials and other agencies concerned will also discuss amendments of laws and penalties concerning the use of the drug. Kratom leaves are in the category 5 of Thailand's Narcotics Acts and are now controlled substance. Kratom trees are indigenous to Southeast Asia and Thailand is the only country in the region that designates its leaves as illegal narcotic substance. As Kratom is now in the same category of heroin and marituana, the ONCB chief noted that separate parts of the tree could be taken into account in the official review process. (TNA)