Opportunities and Risks from Katom Unlocking

 26 เม.ย. 2565 12:40 น. | อ่าน 4645
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          The story of Katom is quite interesting because when Katom is unlocked from the list of Narcotics, consumption of Katom that has been normally hidden in the way of life of people becomes legal and herbal plant with new economic opportunity in national level and regional level, especially in southern border provinces. However, there are some concerns on Katom unlocking.

          Let’s learn on Katom, a herbal plant, that becomes a small mechanism to drive health dimension and economic dimension! This will be useful for all related persons to some extent.

Botanical Characteristics of Katom1

          There are many names of Katom, for example, Tom or E Tang. It is a kind of large and moderate perennial plants with hardwood and the height of 10-15 meters. It is classified into Mitragyna Speciosa Family with leaves that are similar to those of Ylang Ylang.

          Its leaves are in red or green and the size of its flower is equal to that of jujube fruit. Its leaves are green single leaves arranged in pairs that are opposite to the other side. The width of its leaf is around 5-10 centimeters with the length of 8-14 centimeters. Its flower is yellowish white and its shape is circular with the size of 3-5 centimeters.

          The source of Katom is in central area like Pathumthani but it can be highly found in natural forests in southern part of Thailand, for example, Suratthani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trang, Satun, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, and upper part of Malaysia.

          Addictive substance found in Katom leaves is Mitragynine that is classified as alkaloids with CNS Depressant.

Katom leaves have several medicinal properties, for example, in ancient time; Katom was a kind of plant used as medicine in the formula of diarrhea medicine of local doctors or traditional medicine.

Katom under Narcotic Drugs Act (B.E. 2522)2

          Since there are some addictive substances contained in Katom leaves, Katom leaves were controlled in 1943 under Katom Act B.E. 2486 stated that Katom was prohibited from growing, possessing, distributing, and using. In 1979, Katom was defined as Category-5 Narcotic Plants in Section 7 of Narcotic Drugs Act B.E. 2522.

Katom after Unlocking under Narcotic Drugs Act (No.8) B.E. 25643

          Subsequently, on August 24th, 2021, Katom was unlocked from the List of Category-5 Narcotic Drugs leading to the draft of Katom Act for controlling details on growing and distribution whereas the draft of Karom Act has already approved by the House of Representatives on September 8th, 2021. The subject matters of Katom Act state that Katom can be grown independently but children below 18 years old and pregnant women are prohibited from using Katom. In addition, Katom plants are able to be exported and imported by applying for permission.

          However, there are many concerns on the use of Katom, especially in health dimension, for example, the Committee considers that consumption of excessive quantity of Katom may be harmful, especially with children below 18 years old, pregnant women, and lactating women. Therefore, the measures for directing selling, advertising, and consumption of Katom leaves were established in order to protect health of consumers and such group of persons.

Economic Opportunities of Katom4

          Actually, Katom has been consumed by people in other countries in various forms including tea, supplementary food, and inhaler. However, there are only a few countries that export Katom. Moreover, Katom is not defined as narcotic drug in many countries. Importantly, it is not specified by United Nation (UN) in 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and Protocol Amending the Single Convention of Narcotic Drugs, 1972.

          This means that Thailand has high opportunity on exporting Katom to the world market in various countries as a kind of herbal plant with many medicinal properties. Currently, Katom exportation in international level is limited. Although Katom is a kind of local plants in Southeast Asia, there is only Indonesia that can export Katom legally. Consequently, 90% - 95% of Katom is exported by Indonesia.

          However, demands on Katom of people throughout the world is quite high and Katom market is also new with less competition therefore it is considered as a good opportunity to unlock Katom of Thailand for building economic opportunities in national level, regional level, and international level.

Katom in Context of Southern Border Provinces5

          As mentioned above, southern border provinces consisted of Yala, Pattanai, and Narathiwat, are considered as the sources that Katom can be grown properly and Katom products have been well-known as “Katom leaves” and “Katom juice”.

          “Katom leaves” are chewed by general people to enhance physical power for working and it is considered as a normal activity that has been occurred in three southern border provinces for a long period. However, it had not been revealed because it was illegal and it is also considered by Islam as a kind of intoxicants that should be refrained by the Muslim way.

          “Katom juice” involves with narcotics, for example, “See Khun Roi” that is a kind of narcotics made by mixing Katom with cough medicine and mosquito repellent. When teenagers consume this kind of mixture, they will mingle for entertaining that is contrary to the religious context clearly. If Katom juice is extensively drunk, family system may be subsequently ruined.

          Therefore, religious leaders have some concerns on Katom unlocking because they are afraid that their children will addict to Katom automatically due to the problems on the way of life of local juveniles. Consequently, religious leaders have the opinion that it is necessary to establish clear measures with serious enforcement if Katom consumption will be independent and local people must participate in establishing those measures.

          However, there are some local people give the opinion that consumption of Katom is based on intention of consumption. If it is consumed for health reasons like lowering pressure, etc., it is not contrary to religious principle because it is consumed as medicine. However, if it is consumed as intoxicant, it is surely contrary to religious principle.

          The interesting thing is that when Katom is unlocked, Katom sale and purchase6 is immediately vigorous in online and offline markets.

          Most purchasers purchase fresh Katom leaves for consuming without cooking. Some people purchase Katom leaves for boiling and cooking. The price of Katom leaves is ranged from 450-500 baht per kilogram. Most Katom leaves are delivered from southern provinces.

          In Songkhla, Katom leaves are contained in bottles and chilled for selling along Asian Highway and they were completely sold out on the first day.

Conclusion

          Katom is a kind of herb that has been used since ancient time with many health benefits and it is also considered as a kind of local wisdom of southern border provinces. However, there are some misuses of Katom in lieu of usage for health.

          Therefore, unlocking Katom from the List of Narcotics is considered as a good opportunity to develop Katom on health dimension and economic dimension with high opportunity of growth in national level, regional level, and international level. It has no doubt that it will help to increase economic growth and income as well as improve quality of life of people in southern border provinces that are appropriate for growing Katom.

          However, in every opportunity, there may be some risks, especially using Katom in the way that is not involved with health. Therefore, measures for controlling usage of Katom must be efficient in order to reduce risks caused by misuses of Katom.


1 https://mnfda.fda.moph.go.th/narcotic/?p=6063

2 https://bit.ly/3htxDJd

3 https://thestandard.co/trading-of-kratom-leave/

4 https://brandinside.asia/kratom-unlock-in-thailand/

5 https://www.isranews.org/article/south-news/south-slide/101877-kratomfree.html

6 https://thestandard.co/trading-of-kratom-leave/

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