The study was conducted in Tambon Namphu, a rural region in southern Thailand where kratom has been used traditionally. Researchers used surveys, interviews, and focus groups to understand how the community viewed kratom use and decriminalization. They found that most participants supported decriminalizing both kratom cultivation and consumption, as they saw benefits for work productivity and health. However, people were more concerned about the use of kratom decoctions compared to fresh kratom leaves. To address this, the researchers worked with the community to develop a community charter for controlling kratom use. This involved registering and monitoring kratom trees, limiting ownership, and only allowing consumption of fresh leaves. The charter was first piloted in one village and then expanded to the broader Tambon Namphu region. The community-based approach aimed to balance the cultural significance of kratom with government concerns about regulation.

Key takeaways:

• Most participants supported decriminalizing both kratom cultivation and consumption.
• People had more positive views of using fresh kratom leaves compared to kratom decoctions.
• A community-based charter was developed and implemented to control kratom use in the region.
• The community-based approach aimed to balance cultural traditions with government regulation.

For further reading:

Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0955395921001969

Full Citation:

Charoenratana, S., Anukul, C., & Aramrattana, A. (2021). Attitudes towards Kratom use, decriminalization and the development of a community-based Kratom control mechanism in Southern Thailand. International Journal of Drug Policy, 95, 103197