Weed in Thailand update Legalization for 2021
As the rules have been relaxed, weed in Thailand Law says that Thai families can now grow up to six pots of cannabis each. That said, Thai households can now cultivate their own to supplement their income, according to the country’s health minister, as the region’s first country to legalize medical marijuana eased regulations to allow the crop’s commercial use.
The legalization of cannabis in Thailand has become a public issue in recent years. Some people agree that cannabis extract has medical advantages and is relatively safe in comparison with other medications. Some of the participants indicated that because of the increased selling and distribution of cannabis, the number of crimes and violence would rise further.
Tracing back its roots
The government in Thailand ultimately considered the positive effects of legalizing medical cannabis to overwhelm the negative effect. In 2019, the cannabis law – B.E. 2545 (2002) NAR Act, was finally amended to permit the use of cannabis in a medical way.
This amendment identifies all parts of cannabis under Schedule 5 which, except for medical or research purposes, is not permitted to sell, produce, distribute. The Ministry of Public Health – Re: Nacortics was announced following Schedule 5 of the Narcotics Act, until December last year, with some parts of cannabis removed from Schedule 5 of the NAR Narcotics Schedule. On December 15, 2020, the announcement took effect.
The New Announcement states that certain parts of cannabis no longer fall under Schedule 5, which includes bark, trunk, fiber, branch, root, blossom-less leave, extract containing cannabidiol (CBD), and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) of not more than 0.2% or after extraction residue containing THC of no more than 0.2%. These parts, however, must come from the legally cultivated cannabis in Thailand.
Can we cultivate cannabis right away following the new announcement?
No, not really. Whereas other cannabis does not fall under Schedule 5, it does not mean that anyone can develop cannabis freely. The announcement regulation regarding the weed in Thailand is still subject to the NAR, the main regulation. Unless the preceding license is obtained, Section 26/2 of the NAR still limits narcotics production, import, and export. The only way to grow cannabis is the licensee.
However, it is quite restrictive to obtain a license. Since the applicant is limited to a certain group, including governmental agencies, health professionals or pharmaceutical professionals, universities, farm operators forming a community enterprise group, or any person authorized under section 26/5 of the NAR.
Importing weed in Thailand still illegal
Unfortunately, as stated above, the legal manufacture in Thailand must result in the removal of some part of cannabis from narcotic Schedule 5. The import of bark, trunk, fiber, branch, or any of the other pieces of cannabis as specified in the advertisement, therefore, shall remain prohibited if the Government does not provide you with a specific license.
Thailand’s Deputy Premier and Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said in a statement that families can form communities to grow marijuana and supply the crop to public hospitals and state facilities, or use it to make food and cosmetic products as a new revenue source.
At a marijuana educational expo in Buriram, 400 kilometers northeast of Bangkok, Anutin said, “Marijuana and hemp are both economic crops, and it provides a new option for locals to generate revenue.” “We are working to loosen restrictions so that the public has better access to the factory, but we ask that you comply and use it properly.”
Thailand was the first country in 2018 to legalize medical marijuana in Southeast Asia, but the ban continues for recreational use. According to the minister. In addition to this, any flowers and seeds developed by the homegrown crop must be sent to state medical facilities. Because they are still illegal under the country’s criminal code due to their high levels of psychoactive compounds.
Few steps on the right direction
Since December of last year, the rest of marijuana, including leaves, roots, and fiber, as well as hemp plants, has been decriminalized and permitted to be used in the food and cosmetic items. After an election in which drug legalization was the centerpiece of his political party’s campaign, Anutin became a minister in 2019.
Whereas there are still certain restrictions, allowing households to cultivate marijuana is yet another step towards breaking down Sri Lanka. Which allows the plant to grow only for medical purposes, with limited growth by state-licensed farmers. In the Philippines, the plan will be used for epilepsy, but marijuana remains forbidden, and some will be punishable with the death penalty in most other countries in South-East Asia.
