Kratom with a scientific name of Mitragyna speciosa is an indigenous plant in Southeast Asia. It specifically is commonly found in Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia because it grows in tropical forests. Today, it is illegal to possess Kratom in Thailand. It is a natural plant that belongs to the coffee family. It is known to have a psychoactive effect on its users. Consumers usually use the leaves for tea or take it as a pill where it is in powder form placed inside capsules.

Thai government passed the Kratom act of 2486 on August 3, 1943, making ownership of Kratom illegal. This was brought by the increased usage of opium, which the government wanted to control primarily because it was known to be a cheaper alternative to opium. Until 2018, possession of Kratom was declared illegal in Malaysia, Ireland, Denmark, the UK, Sweden, Australia, and New Zealand.

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