Thailand Put Major U-Turn on Cannabis Regulations

Thai government aims to rectify its cannabis policy including prohibit recreational cannabis, increase punishment and revising the current household grow license which could put a massive impact on weed industry.

Those new regulations are part of a tough draft bill on cannabis and hemp control that Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew has been slammed after the ministry bypassed public hearing process and submitted the bill directly to the cabinet. He later corrected himself, saying that it was the ministry’s opinions on the draft that reached the cabinet, shortly before a public hearing

Those wishing to grow cannabis are required to seek permission once again when the new bill is activating with license fee over 50,000 bath for small household growing within area less than 2 acres, Furthermore not simply notify the authorities as stipulated in ministerial regulations issued by the Prayut Chan-o-cha government. The bill imposes harsh penalties for violators. For example, growing cannabis without permission is subject to imprisonment from one to five years and fines of between 20,000-500,000 baht, depending on the size of the crop.
With a narrow definition for recreational use, as mentioned in Section 4 and Section 42 (1) on banning sales of cannabis parts to any individual for recreational purposes — the bill is problematic and may contradict the decriminalisation of cannabis principle. Such tough penalties are deemed inconsistent with the principle that cannabis is now seen as a herb. Only cannabis extracts containing more than 0.2% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) would still be classified as a narcotic.

While the cannabis movement has called on justice that is why the government is being lenient regarding methamphetamine pills but toughened its stance on this particular herb. From the question arises the need for the country to have a law to better regulate cannabis use.

Picture and Data origin at elroi stock, bangkokpost