Thailand becomes the first Asian country to decriminalize marijuana. But there’s a lot more than what meets the eye. Find all details right here! On January 25, 2022, Thailand’s health minister announced that the Thailand Narcotics Agency has left cannabis out of the ministry’s list of controlled drugs. With that, Thailand became the first Asian nation to decriminalize cannabis. The news has induced a rush of positive sentiments among cannabis enthusiasts in Thailand and across the world. Some have gone as long as to call it a new dawn for the Thai cannabis industry. But there’s a lot more to know than you’d find in sensational headlines. So we took the pains of digging deep and finding real, raw, and valuable information about the bold move by the Thai government. Here’s everything you need to know about the decriminalization of marijuana in Thailand. This wholesome piece will cover the following topics: The basics of cannabis and marijuana The turn of events that led to the decriminalization of cannabis in Thailand What does the move exactly mean Impact of the decriminalization on the economy of Thailand Effects on the global cannabis industry Feel free to jump to the section that most interestS you. What is marijuana and why was it illegal in Thailand? Marijuana also called cannabis is a psychoactive drug obtained from the cannabis plant. The plant, native to Central and Southern Asia, has been used in traditional medicine for centuries. It is also widely used for recreational and entheogenic purposes. Hemp and marijuana both belong to the same species. And Thailand has decriminalized cannabis, which includes both hemp and marijuana. The consumption of marijuana is done either by smoking, vaping, adding it to food, or as an extract. Marijuana is locally called ‘ganja’ in Thailand, which also points to the fact that it may have been introduced in the country from India. (Ganja is the Indian term for marijuana.) In Thailand, laborers had used ganja for relaxing muscles and women used it to ease labor pain. However, in the 1930s, the possession, sale, and use of cannabis was banned. The law came into effect with the Cannabis Act, B.E. 2477 (1935). The act was later revoked and replaced by the Narcotics Act 2522 (1979). The Psychotropic Substances Act 2518 (1975) is another legal enactment that governed the fate of cannabis in the country. “LOGIC is …to question the ban of a plant that can serve humans in 50,000 ways.” There are several pieces of research and studies that validate the claims. And given the long history of its use in Thailand, the ban does seem misplaced. Well, here’s the primary reason that got marijuana banned in Thailand (and many other countries across the globe): Tetrahydrocannabinol. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is one of the 483 known components of the cannabis plant. And this psychoactive element that leads to mind-altering effects upon consumption is the main rationale behind marijuana being illegal across several countries in the world. The journey of marijuana decriminalization in Thailand The Narcotics Act in Thailand categorizes cannabis as a class 5 narcotics. The act restricts people from producing, importing, exporting, disposing of, possessing, or consuming cannabis. However, cannabis has been proven to have beneficial effects for patients struggling with several medical conditions including cancer and Alzheimers among other diseases. Keeping that in mind, legalizing at least the medical use of cannabis was important to ensure the accessibility of this alternative form of healthcare for Thai people. So, in February 2019, the Narcotics Act (No. 7), B.E. 2562 (2019) was proclaimed and the Narcotics Act was amended to allow the medical use of certain class 5 narcotics – cannabis and kratom. Use for research purposes was also allowed. This landmark legislation was the first step in the journey of marijuana decriminalization in Thailand. Further relaxations were rolled out in December 2020 when certain parts (and extracts) of cannabis (marijuana and hemp) were dropped from the list of class 5 narcotics. It meant that certain parts of the cannabis plant would not attract charges and fines designated for class 5 narcotics. However, some of the conditions in this clause were: The parts and extracts should be grown/produced in Thailand. These parts and extracts could only be used for research and health-related purposes. Leaves and parts with cannabidiol (CBD) with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) of less than 0.2% of weight were excluded. Other than that, the fine print read: Users of medical marijuana need a prescription by a certified physician. Patients can carry only as much medical marijuana on their person, as is prescribed by the doctor. Tourists visiting Thailand will also need to carry medical certificates to bring marijuana to the country. Non-compliance would lead to confiscation of the marijuana stash and other legal complications. As for growing marijuana by households, only roots, leaves, the stalk, and the stem can be used by individuals. Anything with over 0.2% THC (flower, buds, and seeds) has to be handed over to the authorities. Homegrown marijuana can be used in food or cosmetics or sold for these purposes. Another big step in the journey came on December 30, 2020, when the Ministerial Regulation Re. Application and License for Production, Import, Export, Selling or Possession of Hemp was gazetted. It allowed people and businesses to apply for a license to produce, import, export, distribute and possess cannabis. The application process began on January 29, 2021. And on January 25 this year, Thailand’s positive movement towards cannabis reached another high when even flowers, buds, and seeds were dropped from the list of controlled drugs. Health minister Anutin Charnvirakul has been instrumental in this entire journey. Anutin belongs to the Bhumjai Thai Party, which is a major partner in the coalition government ruling in Thailand presently. Charnvirakul not just championed this decriminalization but is also seen taking efforts to promote the cannabis industry in the country. Decoding the move – What does it actually mean? It often happens that legal lingo and misunderstood government notifications land you into […]
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