Thailand approves medical marijuana in New Year's 'gift'

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Thailand approves medical marijuana in New Year's 'gift'

By Patpicha Tanakasempipat and Panarat Thepgumpanat

 

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand approved marijuana for medical use and research on Tuesday, the first legalisation of the drug in a region with some of the world's strictest drug laws.

 

The junta-appointed parliament in Thailand, a country which until the 1930s had a tradition of using marijuana to relieve pain and fatigue, voted to amend the Narcotic Act of 1979 in an extra parliamentary session handling a rush of bills before the New Year's holidays.

 

"This is a New Year's gift from the National Legislative Assembly to the government and the Thai people," said Somchai Sawangkarn, chairman of the drafting committee, in a televised parliamentary session.

 

While countries from Colombia to Canada have legalised marijuana for medical or even recreational use, the drug remains illegal and taboo across much of Southeast Asia, which has some of the world's harshest punishments for drug law violations.

 

Marijuana traffickers can be subject to the death penalty in Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia.

 

But in Thailand, the main controversy with legalisation involved patent requests by foreign firms that could allow them to dominate the market, making it harder for Thai patients to access medicines and for Thai researchers to access marijuana extracts.

 

"We're going to demand that the government revoke all these requests before the law takes effect," said Panthep Puapongpan, Dean of the Rangsit Institute of Integrative Medicine and Anti-Aging.

 

Some Thai advocates hope that Tuesday's approval will pave the way for legalisation for recreational use.

 

"This is the first baby step forward," said Chokwan Chopaka, an activist with Highland Network, a cannabis legalisation advocacy group in Thailand.

 

(Writing by Patpicha Tanakasempipat; Editing by Edmund Klamann)

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-12-25

[AGareth2]

my sciatica is troubling me

[Nyezhov]

I'm in pain. Ow. Ouch.

Plus I'm tired and depressed.

Can't sleep.

Want to eat Taco Bell

[shadowofacloud]

 

I really hope they don't <deleted> this up.

[from the home of CC]

potential positive here, as above, all in the handling...

[quandow]

What is the Thai word for "glaucoma?"

[Hal65]

Can't wait to see how this manifests in Pattaya

[fforest1]

In America they were passing out marijuana prescriptions like candy for any thing and every thing when states only had medical marijuana....

So if this is repeated here marijuana will defacto legal strait away..... 

[webfact]

Use of medical marijuana passes NLA

By THE NATION

 

FILE photo

 

Strict limits set for its use in medicine, science and industry

 

A NEW LAW that legitimises the use of marijuana for medical purposes sailed through the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) yesterday with overwhelming support.

 

Under the law, possession of marijuana and krathom within legal limits will be allowed for treatment of certain diseases, for first aid or in cases of emergency.

 

However, anyone possessing more than 10 kilograms of marijuana will be treated as having the intent to sell it illegally. 

 

The possession of marijuana for purposes other than the strict limits outlined under the law remains liable to legal action. 

 

Those found in possession of less than 10 kilograms of marijuana could still face up to five years in jail and a fine of Bt100,000.

 

Anyone possessing more than 10 kilograms of the drug risks imprisonment of between one and 15 years, and a fine of between Bt100,000 and Bt1 million.

 

The NLA yesterday voted 166-0, with 13 abstentions, to pass the draft law deliberated on by a committee chaired by Somchai Sawangkarn.

 

The law amends the existing Narcotic Drugs Act of 1979. The amendment increases to 25 the members on the National Narcotics Control Committee, up from 17. The eight new members include the permanent secretary of the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry, the director-general of the Department for Development of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, and the director-general of the Department of Health Service Support.

 

The committee has the authority to give permission to requests for production, import and export of marijuana, and also to approve regulations proposed by relevant state agencies.

 

After the law has been in force for three years, the committee is required to review all permissions every six months.

 

‘A necessary amount’

 

The law allows possession of “a necessary amount” of marijuana for medical treatment. 

 

Those in possession of the drug for this purpose need to carry a doctor’s prescription. 

 

It will also be legal under the new law to possess marijuana for research and development as well as agricultural, commercial, scientific and industrial purposes.

 

Among those permitted to possess marijuana are patients who need the drug for treatment, state agencies responsible for research or medicine-related education, Thai Red Cross, anti-narcotics agencies, institutions of higher education with research and teaching on medicine, and registered farmer groups.

 

With this law going into effect, the growing of marijuana and processing within the legal limit will be allowed, under close supervision by the Office of the Narcotics Control Board.

 

Meanwhile, Biothai Foundation director Witoon Lianchamroon warned yesterday that transnational companies and giant drug firms with patents for medicines with marijuana content would be the main beneficiaries of the legal easing.

 

He said that requests made by those businesses for patents in Thailand have not been cancelled, as claimed earlier by Commerce Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong.

 

Rangsit University will on December 28 petition the National Anti-Corruption Commission against the Department of Intellectual Property regarding this matter, Panthep Puapongpan, one of its deans, said yesterday.

 

He said the university aims to force the department to rescind international applications for patents before the new law goes into effect.

 

The bill will be forwarded for royal endorsement before being published in the Royal Gazette.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30361135

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-12-26

[Development at Khaoyai]

Definite and positive move forward!

[Lantern]

^Certainly is. Especially as it used to be illegal NOT to grow the stuff.

The story is all in here. Greed won over compassion. Thanks USA (tongue firmly in cheek)

 

https://jackherer.com/emperor-3/

[PatOngo]

8 hours ago, quandow said:

What is the Thai word for "glaucoma?"

Mai sabai……......khup!

[hobz]

Doing what should have been done ages ago is not exactly a gift.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Just remember, according to recent news reports here, when the government types obtained some marijuana from the Thai police to use for testing purposes, the results came back with all kinds of pesticide and heavy metals contamination. Obviously, that seized weed came from illegal sources who knows where.

 

Hopefully, they'll clean up their act by the time any official, legal production of the weed begins here. But since they can't even get harmful pesticide residues out of the veggies that are sold in supermarkets here, even the so-called organic types, I wouldn't be too optimistic.

 

[dickjones2018]

" a country which until the 1930s had a tradition of using marijuana to relieve pain and fatigue, "

 

so who or what made them make it illegal ...  USA? with DEA while it was the CIA importing most of the cocaine & heroine into the country to go make war on other countries...

[neeray]

The country where I reside mostly (for now), recently legalized recreational weed. But prior to that, I had work related cause to spend a few days and evenings in a town that had several "medical dispensaries". My work was right next door to one of these dispensaries. I was totally amazed at the steady parade of persons, all about age 25 to 30, who traipsed in and out of this facility, seemingly getting their fix for whatever ailed them at such a young age.

[Inepto Cracy]

Thank flip they have seen the light.

Welcome to 2018/19 Thailand.

[riceyummm]

Medical mj legalized........Taco Bell announces first Thailand franchise.......coincidence?.......I don't think so!

[wealthychef]

Does this change the fine or punishment for possession of small amounts of pot?

[Nyezhov]

9 hours ago, quandow said:

What is the Thai word for "glaucoma?"

iwaanagetbuzzed

[saminoz]

9 hours ago, quandow said:

What is the Thai word for "glaucoma?"

I am not sure, but a sympton is "hey!  Hansum man!"

[Cadbury]

14 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Thailand approves medical marijuana in New Year's 'gift'

I thought the Thai New Year was in April long after to the election. Giving out these gifts and using the solar (farang) New Year as an excuse has nothing to do with populism and vote buying by any chance?

[Borzandy]

15 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Thailand approves medical marijuana in New Year's 'gift'

So, everyone will look like the guy in the picture

[Nyezhov]

48 minutes ago, dickjones2018 said:

" a country which until the 1930s had a tradition of using marijuana to relieve pain and fatigue, "

 

so who or what made them make it illegal ...  USA? with DEA while it was the CIA importing most of the cocaine & heroine into the country to go make war on other countries...

the illegality of marijuana was as a result of US pressure.

 

As to the rest of your post with its tiresome sound bite American bashing, Id be happy to give you a history lesson but its off topic

[phuketrichard]

Double thumbs UP

[Emdog]

This news is enough to make me sick!

[Zendo]

420 time.. ????

[l4ml4m]

Where to get it ?

 

[johnarth]

a giant step forward for Thailand providing they keep those money parasites out of it, what they suggest is true, it has to be kept with Thailand they have already proved they can make the medicines themselves. now to see what they will charge us when we need it,

[Faikham]

"a giant step forward for Thailand providing they keep those money parasites out of it, what they suggest is true, it has to be kept with Thailand they have already proved they can make the medicines themselves. now to see what they will charge us when we need it,"

 

If by "money parasites" you mean people who will provide it to society at a cost that rewards their investment and efforts, I'd say we need to get them in!