Thailand Cannabis Laws News for 2022: Big Change Is Coming!
In the past few years, Thailand Cannabis Laws have been making a lot of changes. In October 2018, The Crime Suppression Division announced that they will start implementing a six-month trial to decriminalize the use and possession of marijuana for personal use.
The main goal of this trial is to test out how much it will help with reducing the country’s drug problems. And if it does not work out as well as they want then there will be a new law passed.
Additionally, Thailand has increased its penalties on trafficking and smuggling drugs like cocaine and heroin. These changes are not tied to any political agenda since the country did not elect a new leader in December 2018.
Cannabis was the most widely used illegal drug in Thailand. In 2015, it was estimated that 6.5 million Thais have used cannabis at least once in their lives and 3.2 million still use the drug on a regular basis. The figures are worrying as they show an increase from 4.6 million users in 2006, according to a survey by the Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB).
The Legalization of Cannabis in Thailand makes another Step Forward
Thailand’s cabinet has agreed to change the law to decriminalize marijuana with low levels of THC.
The government cited cases of people prosecuted for carrying small amounts of cannabis and said it would be “too harsh” to prosecute them under the new law. The cabinet also wanted to avoid prosecution for drug smuggling and trafficking.
The decision was made amid a growing global trend loosening restrictions on cannabis, which is now legal in Canada and some US states.
Thailand’s Cannabis Laws are changing and the government is now looking to make changes. The country has seen a boom of cannabis-friendly products – cafes selling cannabinol tea, and even a pizza joint selling “Crazy Happy Pizza” (a.k.a pizzas with special marijuana leaf crusts).
Parts of the plant containing little or no tetrahydrocannabinol, like the leaves and stem, were taken off the list of controlled substances in December 2020. They are instead treated as Category 5 Narcotics when they are already categorized before brushing against parts with higher levels.
In this latest legislation, flowers and buds with less than 0.2% THC will be legal for people to use, process & sell.
Thailand's Cannabis Laws Are Changing
The Ministry of Public Health has been at the forefront of cannabis legalization for many years. This year, they have made an aggressive push to fully legalize it. The leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, Anutin Charnvirakul, has been one driving force behind this legislation.
Authorities believe it’s time to remove cannabis from the narcotic list. Starting in 2022, they won’t consider stems, roots, branches, leaves, buds, or flowers as illegal substances.
Anutin mentioned at the event over the weekend that growing cannabis for extra money is completely possible, as long as you have government approval. Home growers can even grow large amounts without any limitations whatsoever.
How to Get Legal Medical Cannabis in Thailand as a Foreigner?
It’s no secret that Thailand has become quite open to marijuana recently. As a result, medical marijuana clinics have opened up in the country where people can receive THC and CBD treatment without needing many details. They also have a licensed cannabis cafe located above the clinic where you can get your hands on all your favorite products; including edibles and CBD infused tea.
To Wrap Things Up
As Thailands Cannabis Laws for medical and recreational use continue to evolve, we will be here to keep you informed. If you are not already a subscriber, please subscribe today so that you don’t miss out on any opportunities. We can also be found on Twitter under this link.
SOURCE: Thethaiger
FAQ
Thailand will allow people to grow marijuana in their own homes from June 9, according to Thailand’s health minister and medical marijuana pioneer Anutin Charnvirakul. But there are some restrictions.
First condition# Medical marijuana in Thailand can be grown only for medicinal purposes. Growing it for recreational use is not allowed.
Second condition# people will not need to register to grow weed at home, but they should inform the authorities so that Thailand can meet the requirements of international treatise.
Here’s a look at what has happened regarding cannabis in Thailand over the past three years…
In February 2019, cannabis use for medical purposes became legal, but recreational use was not.
In December 2020, the government approved the cultivation of cannabis and the production of products made from cannabis. Under the new cannabis law, farmers need permission from the government to grow cannabis.
Starting in 2021: Following a change in the law, cannabis cafes in Thailand can now offer customers teas and dishes made with cannabis leaves.
January 2022: Marijuana was removed from the narcotics list and become legal in Thailand — except for extracts with over 0.2% THC. The revisions to the narcotics laws should lift restrictions for those growing the plant for medical purposes or research.
Tourists visiting Thailand may bring a 90-day supply of medical marijuana with them if they have a prescription from their home country, an official document from their doctor specifying what condition the patient is being treated for, and a permit from the Thai FDA.
As of now, it’s unclear how this process will work, and given the potential penalties for attempting to bring cannabis products into Thailand illegally, it’s probably safer to avoid traveling with medical marijuana until the process has been better defined.
For example, there is no standard form specifying the format of the doctor’s certificate, whether it needs to be translated, or whether it needs to be certified/notarized by a certain person.
