Cannabis In Thailand

In Thailand, cannabis, known by the name ganja was decriminalized in 2022. Medical use has been made legal since 2018. In 2022, The Thai Food and Drug Administration officially removed marijuana and hemp from the Category 5 narcotics list. Possession, cultivation, distribution, consumption, and sales of cannabis plant parts are legal, especially for personal use. However, license and permission may be required in some circumstances. The import and export of cannabis are still highly regulated. Recreational use of cannabis products is discouraged but legal if the THC content is below 0.2% by weight. However, there is no restriction on THC for the consumption of cannabis plant parts. Cannabis smoking is legal for private use but prohibited in the public area.

Introduction

Cannabis appears to have been introduced to Thailand from India, with the similarity of the Thai name to the Indian term ganja cited as evidence. Cannabis has historically been used in Southeast Asia as an ingredient, a kitchen condiment, a medicine, and a source of fiber. Laborers were known to use it as a muscle relaxer. It was reportedly used to ease women's labor pains.

On 8 May 2022, Thailand's health minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced in a Facebook post that the government will distribute one million free cannabis plants to households across the country, starting June 9. The move is said to be a step further into Thailand's plan to use cannabis as a cash crop.

Legalization

The possession, cultivation, sales, and use of cannabis were criminalized by the Cannabis Act 2477 BE (1935) and again by the Narcotics Act 2522 BE (1979). In 2018, Thailand became the first Asian nation to legalize medical cannabis. On January 25, 2022 cannabis became decriminalized for recreational use in Thailand, and again it is the first nation in Asia to do so.

A cannabis clinic was available as early as April 2022. Starting from June 9, 2022, all cannabis plant parts were entirely removed from the narcotic list decriminalizing all cannabis-related crimes. Around 4,200 prisoners were released as a result of the decriminalization on the same day.

Cultivation

There are currently no restrictions on how many plants each individual can cultivate. The specific law regulating cannabis is still pending in Thai parliament as of June 2022. However, the government urges people to register their cannabis plantation on the website or the application "Plookganja" (meaning "Let's grow cannabis") in case future cannabis law may require the license.

Distribution

Thailand's first two full-time clinics dispensing cannabis oil for medical treatment were inaugurated. The move is in line with the government's intentions to promote the licensed use of medical marijuana to address various health conditions. These two clinics are an addition to 25 part-time clinics that are operating since the legalization of the drug under the new legislation. If this experience produces promising results, the government is all set to open two more clinics as a part of a planned nationwide network of marijuana clinics. The people who were using illegal expensive medical marijuana from underground suppliers are most likely to benefit from it.

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