The trade of cannabis will be limited by the country’s ban on recreational use and the production of anything with more than 0.2% tetrahydrocannabinol.
New Delhi: Thailand on Thursday decrimilnalised growing and trading cannabis plant and removed marijuana from its banned narcotics list. Thailand is the first country in the South East Asia region to decriminalise growing and trading marijuana.
However, the trade of cannabis will be limited by the country’s ban on recreational use and the production of anything with more than 0.2% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive compound that gives users a “high”.
With a relaxation in the rules, the Thailand government is expecting to boost its agriculture and tourism. According to reports, the government will also give away one million cannabis seedlings to the citizens to encourage plantations.
Reports added that now households will be able to cultivate up to six cannabis pot plants at home but only if they register with the authorities. Meanwhile, companies will be allowed to farm the plant with a permit.
Now, clinics across Thailand can offer cannabis as a treatment. Thailand was the first in Asia to legalise medicinal cannabis use in 2018. However, using the drug for personal use is still illegal. The government has also warned people against smoking in public, saying it’s considered a “public nuisance” and added that offenders may have the risk of getting arrested.
The government may also release around 4,000 prisoners convicted in several cases related to marijuana. Reports suggest diners will also be able to order cannabis-infused dishes and drinks at restaurants.
For centuries, the people of Thailand have been using cannabis in traditional medicine to relieve pain and fatigue. Due to its year-round tropical weather, Thailand has an advantage in growing cannabis. In the 1970s and 1980s, Thailand was known as a cultivator of cannabis and producer of marijuana but the government cracked down after joining hands with the US in a war on drugs.
