A majority of people surveyed in Bangkok believe the legalisation of krathom (Mitragyna speciosa) would not reduce the number of methamphetamine abusers, according to a study by the Research Centre at Bangkok University, or Bangkok Poll.
Krathom leaves (Photo by Sontanaporn Inchan)
The opinion survey on "Drugs and the Legalisation of Krathom" involved 1,171 respondents over 18 years of age in Bangkok and neighbouring provinces.
The pollster said 70.5% of respondents said they still see krathom as an illegal drug, but the other 29.5% think differently. And 46.3% said they supported the idea of using krathom leaves for only medicinalal purposes, but 27.5% were against the idea, and 14.6% believed that people should be allowed to use krathom in all cases, while 11.6% were undecided.
When asked whether or not the government's plan to take krathom off the narcotics list would reduce the number of methamphetamine users, 61.1% said no. Only 19.0% agreed with the plan. The others were undecided.
The pollster said 60.2% said they did not believe that legalising krathom would help solve the continuing violence in Thailand's three southernmost border provinces, but 12.6% disagreed. Krathom is common in the deep South and arrests for possession and use, often in a cocktail, are frequent in the region.
If legalised, 49.2% said growing krathom trees must strictly be for medical purposes. 38.7% said krathom growers must have a permit from the government and the supply must be closely regulated. 5.1% said krathom trees should be freely grown anywhere in the country.
Bangkok Poll said 52.2% of respondents said they were that krathom leaves would be misused if they were removed from the restricted narcotics list. However, almost as many, 47.8%, said they would not be worried because they see it as a herbal medicine.
And while 45.6% said using krathom leaves would likely lead users to other illegal drugs, 32.5% disagreed and 21.9% were not sure.