Thailand Launches National Kratom Research and Development Plan to Compete in Global Medicinal Herb Markets

Why it matters

Thailand — kratom's native country — is building a government-backed scientific infrastructure designed to make Thai kratom a globally competitive medicinal crop, running directly counter to the bans and scheduling actions accelerating in Western nations.

The big picture

Thailand legalized kratom in 2021 and designated it a national Herbal Champion in 2023. With 331 published research studies and an expanding agricultural sector, the country is positioning itself as the world's leading source of research-grade and commercial kratom. The gap between Thailand's push to legitimize kratom scientifically and the U.S. DEA's simultaneous move to schedule its most potent compound reflects a fundamental divide in how governments across the globe approach this plant.

Key findings

• The Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM) launched a five-pillar National Kratom Research and Development Plan aligned with international standards
• Thailand has produced 331 kratom-related research studies; 32.9% focus on pharmacology and safety; 31.1% on basic science and agriculture
• Prince of Songkla University leads national kratom research in Thailand
• The five strategic pillars: agriculture and basic science, pharmacology and safety, product development (including nanotechnology), policy and law, and AI/pharmacogenomics for precision medicine
• Identified research gaps include product safety standards, long-term effects in young people, and internationally recognized clinical trials

What they say

"The aim is to promote Thai kratom as a new economic crop that generates income for the country while sustainably safeguarding social safety." — Dr. Tewan Thanirat, Deputy Director-General, DTAM

Bottom line

Thailand's five-pillar national kratom research plan is the most ambitious government-sponsored kratom science initiative in the world — and signals that kratom's home country intends to set the global scientific standard for quality, safety, and clinical evidence.