Thailand to Regulate Cannabis, Not Relist as Narcotic
In the most recent of developments, the Thai cabinet is expected to approve a bill to regulate cannabis and set guidelines for its cultivation, distribution, retail and use. The newly-proposed rules seek to limit recreational use of weed products, in particular outlaw smoking, but the bill will not go as far as to relist the plant as a narcotic, like it was announced by Thai authorities earlier this year. Relisting would have meant effective recriminalization of cannabis in the Southeast Asian country.
In 2022, Thailand decriminalized cannabis without crafting a law to regulate its medical and recreational use. This led to an unprecedented situation where everyone started growing and selling cannabis. A lot of foreign investors used the period of legal vacuum and commenced cannabis operations in Thailand as well.
Then, all that everyone talked about in the beginning of 2024, and following a switch in governments, was that Thailand would recriminalize cannabis and prohibit its recreational use. By the year-end, cannabis was supposed to be added back to the notorious list of narcotics. Yet in another U-turn on cannabis policy in Thailand, the plant will remain legal, and this time regulated.
What’s in the New Bill to Regulate Cannabis in Thailand?
In September, Thai legislators proposed a new bill regulating cannabis for medical and therapeutic use, restricting recreational use, tightening licensing, and opening a public feedback period before submission to the Cabinet and parliament.
Here are key takeaways from the bill, expected to be approved by the Thai cabinet:
- The bill focuses on health and medical uses while attempting to limit recreational smoking
- It abandons proposal to reclassify cannabis as a narcotic (which would have effectively meant recriminalization)
- It introduces stricter rules on licensing, cannabis farming and retail
- Existing cannabis operators will be required to apply for new work permits
The bill was subject to public feedback until September 30. It was drafted after much speculation on future cannabis policy in Thailand, and it still aims to cut down some freedoms, such as recreational smoking permissions.
Unlike previous plan, the new bill will not outright ban recreational cannabis nor reclassify it as a narcotic. However, it foresees fines of up to 60,000 baht ($1,800) for unwarranted recreational use of cannabis. Illicit sales could result in jail time and fines of up to 100,000 baht ($3,000).
The legislation was released by the Ministry of Public Health under the new Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who is the third PM to take office in Thailand in the last two years. Shinawatra is also only the second woman in Thai history to take on the role of Prime Minister. She has been in office for slightly over 100 days now, and her administration seems to be seeking a balanced approach between punitive practices and free-for-all cannabis policy, as seen with the previous two Thai administrations.
More on this topic from Soft Secrets:
- What Led to the Cannabis Boom in Thailand?
- Thai Cannabis Supporters Protested Potential Recriminalization
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Stephen Andrews
