Cannabis in Thailand
The possession, cultivation, sales, and use of cannabis were criminalized by the Cannabis Act 2477 BE (1935) and again by the Narcotics Act 2522 BE (1979). In 2018, Thailand became the first Asian nation to legalize medical cannabis. Cannabis clinic was available as early as April 2022. Starting from June 9, 2022, all cannabis plant parts was entirely removed from the narcotic list decriminalizing all cannabis-related crime. Around 4,200 prisoners were released as a result of the decriminalization on the same day. There is no restriction on the consumption of cannabis plant parts. However, cannabis extracts with THC higher than 0.2% and cannabis seed extracts are still on the narcotic list. Consumption of these extracts is only reserved for medical use under prescription. Cannabis smoking is legal for personal use in private area but not encouraged by the government and is prohibited in public areas by the Public Health Act 2535 BE (1992) with the fine up to 25,000 Baht (~700 USD) or the imprisonment up to 3 months. There is currently no restrictions on how many plants each individual can cultivate. The specific law regulating cannabis is still pending in Thai parliament as of June 2022. However, the government urges people to register their cannabis plantation on the website or the application "Plookganja" (meaning "Let's grow cannabis") in case that the future cannabis law may require the license. Thai law essentially excludes all foreign companies as well as foreign majority companies incorporated in Thailand from producing, selling, importing, exporting, and processing cannabis. The move has been viewed as an effort to protect local companies from the onslaught of highly resourceful and modern technology equipped foreign actors. On 11 May, Thailand's first two full-time clinics dispensing cannabis oil for medical treatment were inaugurated. The move is in line with the government's intentions to promote licensed use of medical marijuana to address various health conditions. These two clinics are an addition to 25 part-time clinics that are operating since the legalization of the drug under the new legislation. If this experience produces promising results, the government is all set to open two more clinics as a part of a planned nationwide network of marijuana clinics. The people who were using illegal expensive medical marijuana from underground suppliers are most likely to benefit from it. In addition, the FDA has approved all hospitals of the Public Health Ministry to prescribe medical cannabis to people with approved medical conditions.
Legalization and decriminalization
In Thailand, cannabis, known by the name "ganja" (; ) is decriminalized in 2022. Medical use has been made legal since 2018. Since 2022, cannabis plant is fully removed from narcotic list.