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Thailand has introduced a new bill to regulate the cannabis industry, focusing on medical and research purposes as the government seeks to limit recreational consumption.
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What it says: The bill, published earlier this week by the Ministry of Health, allows cannabis and its extracts for medical treatment and research, as well as food, herbal and cosmetic products. Notably, the bill does not ban recreational cannabis outright — a shift from previous designs — and avoids reclassifying the plant as a narcotic. It also tightens rules for growing, selling and exporting cannabis, requiring new licenses or permits. Public feedback on the proposed bill is open until September 30, with possible amendments before it is submitted to parliament for approval.
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Punishments: Under the bill, non-medical use could lead to fines of up to 60,000 baht ($1,800), while unauthorized sales could result in a one-year jail sentence or fines of up to 100,000 baht ($3,000). This follows Thailand’s Decision of 2022 to decriminalize cannabis, leading to the opening of more than 9,400 dispensaries across the country. Political opposition from the Bhumjaithai Party, which wants to keep cannabis legal, has influenced the ruling Pheu Thai Party to abandon plans to mention the plant again as a narcotic.
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