Tassanee Vejpongsa
June 09 2022
Marijuana cultivation and possession in Thailand has decriminalised, but smoking it is still being discouraged, with the development of the medical cannabis industry the aim of new laws.
The stated intention of the country’s public health minister to distribute 1 million marijuana seedlings for cultivation has added to the impression that Thailand is turning into a weed wonderland.
But for the time being, would-be marijuana tourists will be disappointed. Thailand has become the first nation in Asia to decriminalize marijuana — also known as cannabis, or ganja in the local lingo — but it is not following the examples of Uruguay and Canada, the only two countries so far that have legalized recreational marijuana on a national basis.
The government has said it is promoting cannabis for medical use only, warning those eager to light up for fun that smoking in public could still considered to be a nuisance subject to a potential 3-month sentence and 25,000 Thai baht (€675) fine. And extracted content remains illegal if it contains more than 0.2% of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the chemical that makes people high.
That’s roughly the same amount that might be found in hemp, a cannabis variety mostly grown for fibres that are used for industrial purposes.
Thailand is seeking to make a splash in the market for medical marijuana, whose benefits are generally derived from other cannabinol chemicals the plant contains. Thailand already has a well developed medical tourism industry, and its climate is ideal for growing cannabis.
“We should know how to use cannabis,” Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, the country’s biggest marijuana booster, said recently. “If we have the right awareness, cannabis is like gold, something valuable, and should be promoted.”
But he added, “We will have additional Ministry of Health Notifications, by the Department of Health. If it causes nuisances, we can use that law (to stop people from smoking)."
He said the government prefers to “build an awareness" that would be better than patrolling to check on people and using the law to punish them.
“Everything should be on the middle path,” Anutin said during a news conference ahead of the decriminalization Thursday.
Daily Digest Newsletter
Thailand legalises cultivation and possession of marijuana
9 June 2022
9 June 2022
Thailand Marijuana. Picture: PA
The status of marijuana is still in considerable legal limbo because Thai legislators have yet to pass legislation to regulate its trade.
Thailand has made it legal to cultivate and possess marijuana.
The stated intention of the country’s public health minister to distribute one million marijuana seedlings, beginning on Friday, has added to the impression that Thailand is turning into a weed wonderland.
Some Thai advocates celebrated on Thursday morning by buying marijuana at a cafe that had previously been limited to selling products made from the parts of the plant that do not get people high.
The dozen or so people who turned up at the Highland Cafe in Bangkok were able to choose from a variety of buds with names such as Sugarcane, Bubblegum, Purple Afghani, and UFO.
The status of marijuana is still in considerable legal limbo because Thai legislators have yet to pass legislation to regulate its trade.
Thailand has made it legal to cultivate and possess marijuana.
The stated intention of the country’s public health minister to distribute one million marijuana seedlings, beginning on Friday, has added to the impression that Thailand is turning into a weed wonderland.
Some Thai advocates celebrated on Thursday morning by buying marijuana at a cafe that had previously been limited to selling products made from the parts of the plant that do not get people high.
The dozen or so people who turned up at the Highland Cafe in Bangkok were able to choose from a variety of buds with names such as Sugarcane, Bubblegum, Purple Afghani, and UFO.
A staff member at the Highland Cafe selects portions of marijuana for a customer in Bangkok, Thailand (Sakchai Lalit/AP)
“I can say it out loud that I am a cannabis smoker. I don’t need to hide like in the past when it was branded as an illegal drug,” said 24-year-old Rittipong Bachkul, the day’s first customer.
So far, it appears there would be no effort to police what people can grow and smoke at home, aside from registering to do so, and declaring it is for medical purposes.
For the time being, however, would-be marijuana tourists might want to proceed with caution.
Thailand’s government has said it is promoting cannabis for medical use only, warning those eager to light up for fun that smoking in public could still be considered a nuisance, subject to a potential three-month sentence and 25,000 Thai baht (£580) fine.
And extracted content, such as oil, remains illegal if it contains more than 0.2% of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the chemical that makes people high.
The status of marijuana is still in considerable legal limbo because while it is no longer treated as a dangerous drug, Thai legislators have yet to pass legislation to regulate its trade.
Thailand has become the first nation in Asia to decriminalise marijuana – also known as cannabis, or ganja in the local lingo – but it is not following the examples of Uruguay and Canada, the only two countries so far that have legalised recreational marijuana on a national basis.
“I can say it out loud that I am a cannabis smoker. I don’t need to hide like in the past when it was branded as an illegal drug,” said 24-year-old Rittipong Bachkul, the day’s first customer.
So far, it appears there would be no effort to police what people can grow and smoke at home, aside from registering to do so, and declaring it is for medical purposes.
For the time being, however, would-be marijuana tourists might want to proceed with caution.
Thailand’s government has said it is promoting cannabis for medical use only, warning those eager to light up for fun that smoking in public could still be considered a nuisance, subject to a potential three-month sentence and 25,000 Thai baht (£580) fine.
And extracted content, such as oil, remains illegal if it contains more than 0.2% of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the chemical that makes people high.
The status of marijuana is still in considerable legal limbo because while it is no longer treated as a dangerous drug, Thai legislators have yet to pass legislation to regulate its trade.
Thailand has become the first nation in Asia to decriminalise marijuana – also known as cannabis, or ganja in the local lingo – but it is not following the examples of Uruguay and Canada, the only two countries so far that have legalised recreational marijuana on a national basis.
A customer views an array of paraphernalia used to smoke marijuana at the Highland Cafe (Sakchai Lalit/AP)
Thailand mainly wants to make a splash in the market for medical marijuana.
It already has a well developed medical tourism industry and its tropical climate is ideal for growing cannabis.
“We should know how to use cannabis,” public health minister Anutin Charnvirakul, the country’s biggest marijuana booster, said recently.
“If we have the right awareness, cannabis is like gold, something valuable, and should be promoted.”
But he added: “We will have additional Ministry of Health notifications, by the Department of Health. If it causes nuisances, we can use that law (to stop people from smoking).”
The minister said the government prefers to “build an awareness” that would be better than patrolling to check on people and using the law to punish them.
Some immediate beneficiaries of the change are people who have been locked up for breaking the old law.
Thailand mainly wants to make a splash in the market for medical marijuana.
It already has a well developed medical tourism industry and its tropical climate is ideal for growing cannabis.
“We should know how to use cannabis,” public health minister Anutin Charnvirakul, the country’s biggest marijuana booster, said recently.
“If we have the right awareness, cannabis is like gold, something valuable, and should be promoted.”
But he added: “We will have additional Ministry of Health notifications, by the Department of Health. If it causes nuisances, we can use that law (to stop people from smoking).”
The minister said the government prefers to “build an awareness” that would be better than patrolling to check on people and using the law to punish them.
Some immediate beneficiaries of the change are people who have been locked up for breaking the old law.
The first customer of the day celebrates after buying legal marijuana at the Highland Cafe (Sakchai Lalit/AP)
“From our perspective, a major positive outcome of the legal changes is that at least 4,000 people imprisoned for offences relating to cannabis will be released,” Gloria Lai, Asia regional director of the International Drug Policy Consortium, said.
“People facing cannabis-related charges will see them dropped, and money and cannabis seized from people charged with cannabis-related offences will be returned to their owners.”
Her organisation is a network of civil society organisations worldwide advocating drug policies “grounded in principles of human rights, health and development”.
However, economic benefits are at the heart of the marijuana reforms, projected to boost everything from national income to small farmers’ livelihoods.
There is concern over whether the benefits will be distributed equitably.
“From our perspective, a major positive outcome of the legal changes is that at least 4,000 people imprisoned for offences relating to cannabis will be released,” Gloria Lai, Asia regional director of the International Drug Policy Consortium, said.
“People facing cannabis-related charges will see them dropped, and money and cannabis seized from people charged with cannabis-related offences will be returned to their owners.”
Her organisation is a network of civil society organisations worldwide advocating drug policies “grounded in principles of human rights, health and development”.
However, economic benefits are at the heart of the marijuana reforms, projected to boost everything from national income to small farmers’ livelihoods.
There is concern over whether the benefits will be distributed equitably.
Containers of marijuana flower buds are displayed at the Highland Cafe (Sakchai Lalit/AP)
One fear is that giant corporations could be unfairly served by proposed regulations involving complicated licensing processes and expensive fees for commercial use that would handicap small producers.
“We have seen what happened with the alcohol business in Thailand. Only large-scale producers are allowed to monopolise the market,” said Taopiphop Limjittrakorn, a legislator from the opposition Move Forward party.
“We are worried the similar thing will happen to the cannabis industry if the rules are in favour of big business.”
His party wants laws now being drafted to tackle the problem.
Small operators are keen to move into the marijuana sector anyway.
On a hot afternoon in eastern Thailand’s Sri Racha district, Ittisug Hanjichan, owner of Goldenleaf Hemp, a cannabis farm, led his fifth training course for 40 entrepreneurs, farmers, and retirees.
One fear is that giant corporations could be unfairly served by proposed regulations involving complicated licensing processes and expensive fees for commercial use that would handicap small producers.
“We have seen what happened with the alcohol business in Thailand. Only large-scale producers are allowed to monopolise the market,” said Taopiphop Limjittrakorn, a legislator from the opposition Move Forward party.
“We are worried the similar thing will happen to the cannabis industry if the rules are in favour of big business.”
His party wants laws now being drafted to tackle the problem.
Small operators are keen to move into the marijuana sector anyway.
On a hot afternoon in eastern Thailand’s Sri Racha district, Ittisug Hanjichan, owner of Goldenleaf Hemp, a cannabis farm, led his fifth training course for 40 entrepreneurs, farmers, and retirees.
Workers tend to cannabis plants at a farm in Chonburi province, eastern Thailand (Sakchai Lalit/AP)
They each paid about 150 dollars (£120) to learn tips on nicking seed coats and tending the plants to get quality yields.
One of the attendees was 18-year-old Chanadech Sonboon, who said his parents used to scold him for trying to secretly grow marijuana plants.
He said his father has changed his mind and now sees marijuana as a medication rather than something to be abused.
The family runs a small homestay and cafe and hopes to one day provide cannabis to its guests.
By Press Association
They each paid about 150 dollars (£120) to learn tips on nicking seed coats and tending the plants to get quality yields.
One of the attendees was 18-year-old Chanadech Sonboon, who said his parents used to scold him for trying to secretly grow marijuana plants.
He said his father has changed his mind and now sees marijuana as a medication rather than something to be abused.
The family runs a small homestay and cafe and hopes to one day provide cannabis to its guests.
By Press Association
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