(Bangkok, 2nd) The Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine under the Thai Ministry of Public Health has announced a draft Cannabis Control Bill, which clearly limits the use of cannabis strictly to medical and research purposes, completely bans all commercial advertising and marketing of cannabis, and plans to establish a national regulatory commission to thoroughly close legal loopholes that have emerged since cannabis was removed from the narcotics list.
According to The Bangkok Post, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM), Thiwawan, said that the proposed legislation will establish a unified framework covering the cultivation, production, import and export, sale, and public health protection relating to cannabis.
Those who intend to cultivate, produce, import/export, or sell cannabis must obtain a three-year license signed by the DTAM Director-General. The bill will prohibit the sale of cannabis to individuals under the age of 20, pregnant women, and breastfeeding women. In addition, cannabis sales will be banned in temples, schools, dormitories, parks, zoos, and amusement parks.
To curb recreational and leisure use of cannabis, the bill will prohibit any advertising or marketing of cannabis flowers, resin, and smoking paraphernalia.
Cannabis and its extracts may only be used for medical purposes under the supervision of professionals, or for authorized research activities. Anyone who, without authorization, engages in production, import/export, or sale of cannabis, or sells cannabis to restricted groups, will face imprisonment and fines; unauthorized use of cannabis will also be subject to fines.
Only the sale of cannabis roots, branches, stems, leaves, and seeds, and the use of cannabis by medical personnel according to current law for medical purposes, are not within the scope of the bill’s restrictions.
DTAM Director-General Phonsathorn said that public consultation on the draft is complete and the draft was submitted to the Minister of Public Health on July 20 for Cabinet review.
The Thai parliament passed legislation legalizing medical cannabis use in 2018, making Thailand the first country in Asia to fully legalize the use and research of medical cannabis. In 2022, the Thai government removed cannabis and industrial hemp from the list of Schedule V controlled narcotics, after which people began widely cultivating and selling cannabis, with many cannabis sales points emerging on the streets of Bangkok and other tourist destinations, leading to issues such as youth cannabis abuse. As a result, the government decided to legislate control over cannabis use.
Those who intend to cultivate, produce, import/export, or sell cannabis must obtain a three-year license signed by the DTAM Director-General. The bill will prohibit the sale of cannabis to individuals under the age of 20, pregnant women, and breastfeeding women. In addition, cannabis sales will be banned in temples, schools, dormitories, parks, zoos, and amusement parks.
To curb recreational and leisure use of cannabis, the bill will prohibit any advertising or marketing of cannabis flowers, resin, and smoking paraphernalia.
Cannabis and its extracts may only be used for medical purposes under the supervision of professionals, or for authorized research activities. Anyone who, without authorization, engages in production, import/export, or sale of cannabis, or sells cannabis to restricted groups, will face imprisonment and fines; unauthorized use of cannabis will also be subject to fines.
Only the sale of cannabis roots, branches, stems, leaves, and seeds, and the use of cannabis by medical personnel according to current law for medical purposes, are not within the scope of the bill’s restrictions.
DTAM Director-General Phonsathorn said that public consultation on the draft is complete and the draft was submitted to the Minister of Public Health on July 20 for Cabinet review.
The Thai parliament passed legislation legalizing medical cannabis use in 2018, making Thailand the first country in Asia to fully legalize the use and research of medical cannabis. In 2022, the Thai government removed cannabis and industrial hemp from the list of Schedule V controlled narcotics, after which people began widely cultivating and selling cannabis, with many cannabis sales points emerging on the streets of Bangkok and other tourist destinations, leading to issues such as youth cannabis abuse. As a result, the government decided to legislate control over cannabis use.