Gen Paiboon KoomchayaJustice Minister Paiboon Koomchaya is standing firm in his aim to remove krathom and marijuana from the narcotic drugs list and treat them as medicinal herbs. Gen Paiboon said the strict law against consuming krathom and marijuana has proved unsuccessful, so it is time to "rewrite the law, making krathom and marijuana herbs". Krathom, known scientifically as Mitragyna speciosa, and marijuana are currently categorised as Class 5 narcotics under the 1979 Narcotic Drugs Act. Last month, the Food and Drug Administration suggested the government legalise krathom because experts have found it has medicinal properties, including as a painkiller. According to Gen Paiboon, controlling the use of krathom requires cooperation from the authorities who can educate people to prevent abuse.

Source: Bangkok Post November 18, 2016 23:36 UTC