Up in Smoke: Clarifying Myths About Thailand’s Cannabis Laws

[webfact]

 

Silk Legal

 

Even before the recent moves to decriminalise cannabis, there has been no shortage of myths about Thailand’s supposed liberal attitude to the plant. The hopes and dreams for radical reform have, unfortunately, misled many investors eager to jump into new and lucrative opportunities in Thailand’s burgeoning cannabis industry. Nonetheless, many still believe the hype that Thailand has adopted a liberal approach to cannabis and have sunk their fortunes into a business that likely doesn’t exist today.

 

It is important to understand that cannabis decriminalisation does not mean deregulation, and anyone seeking to enter the industry should take the time to understand the raft of restrictions still in place. As covered in our previous article, the recent ministerial announcement, which will come into effect in mid-2022, only removes most parts of the cannabis plant from Category 5 of the list of narcotic substances and does not give a free-for-all on use of the plant.

 

Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe

 

Recreational use, as well as extracts and products that contain more than 0.2% of THC by dry weight, remain highly illegal. There are also strict guidelines on what cannabis can be used for, which, as of writing, is still limited to medical and research purposes. A further extension to cosmetics and supplements is expected, but the regulations are not out yet.

 

-- © Copyright ILK LEGATL 2022-03-299

 

- Aetna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

- Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[Will B Good]

14 minutes ago, webfact said:

Recreational use, as well as extracts and products that contain more than 0.2% of THC by dry weight, remain highly illegal.

Does 0.2% have any 'effect'?

 

Asking for a friend.

[mtls2005]

It's all mythical until the laws/rules/regulations are published in the royal gazette.

 

Hopefully on/before June 9, but I can see an extension "because of COVID (or elections)" coming.

 

 

[khunjeff]

4 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

It's all mythical until the laws/rules/regulations are published in the royal gazette.

I think it's all mythical, period. Aside from some very limited and tightly regulated medical uses, the so-called legalization of marijuana would seem to be better described as a semi-decriminalization of hemp - nothing that anyone outside of Anutin's party would describe as "marijuana" is affected at all.

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

The hopes and dreams for radical reform have, unfortunately, misled many investors eager to jump into new and lucrative opportunities in Thailand’s burgeoning cannabis industry

Anutins label "a cash crop for the people" is very misleading.

[Raphael Hythlodaeus]

9 hours ago, Will B Good said:

Does 0.2% have any 'effect'?

 

Asking for a friend.

Basically - No.

The Government Pharmaceutical Organizations so-called "THC Oil" has a similar amount of THC.

Useless for treating conditions such as cancer, so the gov is misleading people.

I use 16% THC oil for my cancer.

[AMcC]

 

11 hours ago, khunjeff said:

"...the so-called legalization of marijuana would seem to be better described as a semi-decriminalization of hemp..."

Absolutely! I stated the following text in another thread.

 

"Legal strains in Canada range from 5% to 30%, as stated on gov't packaging. As far as I know, there is no strain of marijuana that is at 0.2% when properly grown. 0.2% is called hemp."

 

Should Thailand's proposed amendment to its "marijuana" laws be passed,  the grand total of countries in the world where marijuana is legal would be two (still).

Canada and Uruguay.

Edited March 29, 2022 by AMcC

[Colabamumbai]

Can you please pass the bong.