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Kratom is
legal everywhere EXCEPT it's native land where possession
of even small amounts is punishable by death. See
below for Thailand's laws regarding Kratom:
Narcotics
Control Division
1. Introduction: Brief history, structure, roles and
responsibilities
1.1 Brief history
Control of narcotics in Thailand has begun for centuries
since opium was the only known narcotic drug. The first
regulation concerning opium was proclaimed in 1360,
according to Criminal Code. The Code allowed authorized
officers to imprison traffickers as well as opium addicts
until they were able to overcome addiction.
The Morphine and Cocaine Act B.E. 2456 (1913) prohibited
importation into kingdom and international trade of some
morphine and cocaine. Thailand also joined the
International Opium Convention held in Hague, Netherlands
in 1914. The objective of the Convention was to suppress
the use of the harmful narcotics. As a result, the
Narcotics Act B.E. 2465 (1922) was promulgated to assure
proper control of importation, sale, possession,
production and consumption of narcotics.
In 1934, declaration of Cannabis Act to protect the public
from being addicted to cannabis. And In 1939, The Kratom
Act was promulgated to limit used and propagation of
Kratom trees (Mitragyna speciosa ).
In June 1959, Thai government decided to abolish smoking
and selling of opium after that had legally allowed since
the reign of King Rama IV (around in 1857). Then, came the
emerging time for new opium substitute, "heroin". Heroin
rapidly spread among certain groups of population. The
Narcotics Act B.E.2465 (1922) was then revised and raised
the maximum penalty to death sentence. In addition, the
Ministry of Public Health worked in close cooperation with
The Ministry of Interior on the establishment of a
sanatorium for treatment of the increasing amount of drug
addicts in the north of Bangkok.
The problem of narcotics were not declined and has been
considered as a global problem. Modern communication and
transportation facilitates smuggling and illegal
distribution of harmful narcotics all over the world.
Since Thailand became a member of the single Convention on
Narcotic Drugs in 1961, the government has put every
effort in cooperation with international organizations on
combating illicit trafficking of narcotics. The Narcotics
Act B.E. 2522 (1979) was consequently promulgated in order
to govern enforcement, licensing, registration,
importation, exportation, manufacture, purchase and
exemption of narcotics drugs.
During the last decade, abuse of psychotropic substances
has become a serious problem. Thai government began to
deposit instruments of accession on joining the
International Convention on Psychotropic Substances Act
1971. As a result, the psychotropic substances Act B.E.
2518 (1975) was promulgated to control the problem.
In order to face the problem of abuse of volatile
substances such as thinners and lacquers which widely
spread among young people, the Ministry of Public Health,
therefore, promulgated the Emergency Decree on Prevention
Against Abuse of Volatile Substances B.E. 2533 (1990)
1.2 Organization structure
1.3 Roles and responsibilities
The tasks of this division are: control and monitor the
production, distribution, import, export and possession of
narcotics and psychotropic substances which are legally
used for medical and scientific purposes according to
Narcotics Act and Psychotropic Substances Act. The
Division fulfilled these tasks by issuing licenses and
monitoring the licensees. It also provides and distributes
narcotics and psychotropic substances to meet the local
demand for medical uses. Another duty of this division is
to safe guard the confiscated narcotics and destroy them
when the case is decided by court.
2. Laws and regulation concern
2.1 The Psychotropic Substances ACT 1975 (B.E. 2518)
This act was enacted to control the psychotropic
substances. The Act was directly resulted from the
Convention of Psychptropic Substances 1971 of which
Thailand is a member. Several regulations have been issued
under the Act concerning enforcement, licensing,
registration, importation, exportation, manufacturer,
purchase of psychotropic substances.
2.2 The Narcotics Act 1979 (B.E. 2522)
The Act provides control measures on the production,
import, export, possession of narcotics. Controlled
substances include drug listed in Schedule I, II, III, IV
of Single Convention on Narcotic Drug 1961 and some of
controlled substances in Convention against illicit
Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of
1988.
2.3 Emergency Decree on Prevention Against Abuse of
Volatile Substances 1990 (B.E 2533)
The Emergency Decree was promulgated with the objective to
prevent the use of volatile substances such as thinners,
lacquers, and synthetic or organic adhesive. It was found
that a grate number of young people were addicted to
volatile substances. Control and treatment measures as
well as penalties are specified for all types of offences.
3. Pre-marketing Control Section
It's main responsibility is to issue licenses for
production, sale, import, export and possession of
psychotropic substances and narcotics specified in the
Narcotics Act and Psychotropic Substances Act. It also
issues registration certificates and permit of
advertisement of psychotropic substances and narcotics
which are used for medical and scientific purposes. This
section is responsible for arranging the meetings of
subcommittee and committee concerning the regulations of
psychotropic substances, narcotics and volatile substances
to consider the adjustment the laws concerned.
Another duty of this section is to collect and submit data
and information required by international conventions
since Thailand is a member of the Single Convention on
Narcotics Drugs 1961, the Convention on Psychotropic
Substances 1971 and the United Nations Convention Against
Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic
Substances 1988.
4. Post-marketing Control Section
The main responsibility of this section is to control and
supervise the production, import, export or possession of
narcotics and the psychotropic substances. It also
investigates cases concerning the illegal supply of those
substances, cooperates with concerning agencies to
suppress the ones who offend the law.
5. System Development Section
This section is responsible for planning and budgeting for
the whole division. Then monitors and assesses that all
activities are performed according to plans. It is also
responsible for personnel development such as send
personnel to attend lectures and training on pharmacy and
narcotics. The other areas of responsibility are to
develop the Division's information technology system, to
study trends about the sale and abuse of uncontrolled drug
in order to find ways to prevent these kind of activities.
6. The Narcotics Supply Section
It's main responsibility is to supply psychotropic
substances and narcotics to be utilized for medical,
scientific and industrial purposes. It also distributes
psychotropic substances and narcotics to government and
licensed privates hospitals throughout the country.
7. The confiscated Drugs Control Section
This section is responsible for taking confiscated drugs
from scientific detection officials and safeguards them in
the FDA's warehouse pending the lawsuits. It also
responsible for the disposes or uses of these drugs when
the cases are decided in the courts of first sentence.
Reprinted without permission from the Thailand
Ministry of Health
Specific to Mitragyna speciosa
(Kratom):
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