Thailand Publishes National Research and Development Plan for Kratom

Thailand’s Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM) has prepared a national research and development plan for kratom, according to a July 23, 2026 post on the Thai government’s official information portal. Kratom was removed from Thailand’s narcotics list in 2021 and designated a medicinal herb in 2023. The plan is meant to assess existing research, identify gaps and strengthen public-private cooperation, with the stated aim of lifting Thai kratom products toward international standards.

DTAM’s five strategies cover agriculture and raw-material quality control, pharmacology and safety research, product development using technologies such as nanotechnology, policy and law, and advanced tools including AI and pharmacogenomics. A review found 331 existing Thai studies, and the framework will prioritise areas needing stronger evidence, including product standards and clinical trials. DTAM plans to coordinate with the Department of Medical Sciences, the Food and Drug Administration, the Office of the Narcotics Control Board and universities. Deputy director-general Dr. Thewan Thaneerat said the goal is to develop kratom as a new economic crop; the plan is a research framework rather than a change in law.