70% of people still view krathom as illegal drug : Survey

Most respondents in a recent survey regarded krathom (Mitragyna speciosa) as an illegal narcotic.

The Bangkok Poll survey on narcotics and the legalisation of krathom, conducted by the Research Centre at Bangkok University, asked for the opinions of 1,171 respondents over 18 years of age in Bangkok and surrounding provinces. 

A large majority, 70.5 per cent, said they still viewed krathom as an illegal drug, while 29.5 per cent said otherwise. 

Almost half of the respondents (46.3 per cent) said they supported the use of krathom leaves for medicinal purposes only, while 27.5 per cent disagreed because krathom was a narcotic. 

Some 14.6 per cent said they thought that people should be allowed to use krathom in all circumstances, and 16 per cent were undecided.