Thailand Enforces New Cannabis Regulations Amid Concerns Over Unregulated Sales
Thailand has banned cannabis sales without a prescription, reclassifying cannabis buds and imposing penalties to address social issues related to unregulated use.
Thailand’s Marijuana Un-Legalization: What to Know
TIME Magazine
Overview
- Thailand has introduced a ban on cannabis sales without a prescription, marking a significant regulatory shift after three years of decriminalization.
- Cannabis buds have been reclassified as a controlled herb, tightening previous regulations surrounding cannabis use.
- Violators of the new cannabis sales regulations face severe penalties, including up to one year in jail and a fine of 20,000 baht.
- The government aims to address growing concerns over cannabis access, particularly among children and young people, prompting this policy change.
- These new regulations are expected to reshape Thailand's billion-dollar cannabis industry and tackle social challenges that have emerged since decriminalization.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame Thailand's cannabis ban as a necessary regulatory measure, emphasizing public health concerns and the need for prescriptions. They express a cautious perspective on the previous decriminalization, highlighting potential social issues, particularly among youth, while acknowledging the economic implications for the burgeoning cannabis industry.
Thailand has implemented a ban on the sale of cannabis without a prescription, requiring all retail purchases to be accompanied by a doctor's prescription.
The new order prohibits the sale of cannabis without a prescription and reclassifies cannabis buds as a controlled substance.
Thailand was the first country in Asia to decriminalize cannabis in 2019, becoming the first Asian country to remove marijuana from its list of illegal narcotics in 2022.
Articles (6)
Center (4)
"…The move to restrict cannabis sales came after officials last month revealed that cannabis smuggling cases involving tourists had soared in recent months."
ABC News·5d·"…The abrupt change was politically motivated and has left many shop owners confused and scared about the future of their businesses."
Associated Press·5d·"…The new rules would mean cannabis could only be sold to customers for medical reasons, under the supervision of licensed professionals such as medical doctors, traditional Thai medicine doctors, folk healers or dentists."
Fortune·6d·"…The recriminalization push has left some cannabis industry members like Punnathat Phutthisawong, who works at the Green House Thailand dispensary in Bangkok, stunned."
NBC News·6d·FAQ
Thailand has reclassified cannabis buds as controlled herbs, banned cannabis sales without a prescription, restricted sales and advertising, and imposed penalties including up to one year in jail and a fine of 20,000 baht for violations. The regulations require prescriptions for medical use only, limit sales to authorized practitioners, and enforce strict licensing and documentation measures.
The government aimed to address growing concerns over unregulated cannabis access, particularly among children and young people. Other motivations included increased cannabis smuggling from Thailand to other countries and the political withdrawal of a party that had promoted cannabis legalization.
The new regulations are expected to reshape Thailand's billion-dollar cannabis industry by tightening control over cultivation, sales, research, exports, and advertising, restricting it to medical use only. Licensed handling and strict reporting will be mandated, substantially limiting recreational and commercial cannabis activities.
Violators of the new cannabis sales regulations face severe penalties, including up to one year in jail and fines of up to 20,000 baht.
Cannabis sales are allowed only with a medical prescription from authorized practitioners, including traditional healers. Advertising and commercial sales of cannabis are banned, and sales cannot occur near certain public places such as temples and parks.
History
- 6d3 articles
