Yesterday, Thailand’s narcotics board said it would remove cannabis from its drugs list, paving the way for people to grow the plant at home.
Thailand became the first Southeast Asian country to legalize weed in 2018 for medical use and research.
Under the new rule, people can grow cannabis plants at home after notifying their local government. Still, cannabis cannot be used for commercial purposes without further licenses, Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters.
The rule must be published in the official Royal Gazette, and 120 days must pass before home cannabis plants will become legal.
Meanwhile, the health ministry will this week present to parliament a separate draft bill that provides details on the legal use of cannabis, including its production and commercial use, including guidelines on recreational use.
Homegrown cannabis should be used for medical purposes like traditional medicine, food, and drug regulator chief Paisal Dankhum has said that there would be random inspections.
The draft bill punishes the growth of cannabis without notifying the government with a fine of up to 20,000 baht ($605.33) and prescribes a fine of up to 300,000 baht or three years in jail if someone sells weed without a license.
The move is the latest step in Thailand’s plan to promote cannabis as a cash crop. According to the World Bank, about a third of its labor force works in agriculture.
Leave a Reply