Cabinet approves ‘medical use only’ cannabis bill

Cultivation, production, import, export and sale subject to 3-year licences

The cabinet on Tuesday approved a cannabis control bill that will restrict cannabis use for medical purposes only.

The bill represents the third attempt to pass a definitive law to plug regulatory gaps that have existed since Thailand became the first Asian country to decriminalise cannabis use in 2022. 

Public Health Minister Pattana Promphat said the bill would require cannabis and cannabis extract to be used only for medical treatment by medical professionals and for research.

“This is to protect the health of people, especially children and youth, and prevent cannabis abuse,” he said.

The bill was the product of regulatory impact assessment and comprehensive public hearings, said Mr Pattana. It serves the principle that “cannabis must be used for medicinal and health interest, not for recreation”.

A national committee will be formed to set cannabis-related policies and supporting measures. The public health minister will chair the panel.

The cultivation, production, import, export and sale of cannabis must be subject to three-year licences to be issued by the director-general of the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine.

No licences will be needed for the sales of cannabis roots, stems, branches, leaves and seeds and cannabis use for medical treatment by medical professionals.

Cannabis must not be sold to people younger than 20 years old and pregnant and breast-feeding women. Sales also will not be permitted in society-sensitive areas such as temples, schools, dormitories, public parks, zoos and amusement parks.

Advertising ban

The bill bans advertisement and promotion of the consumption of cannabis buds, resin and paraphernalia in order to prevent cannabis abuse.

Violators will be liable to jail and fines for illegal cannabis production, import, export and sale, while cannabis abusers will face only fines.

Decriminalising cannabis has long been a flagship policy of the Bhumjaithai Party, which saw the potential for creating a lucrative cannabis-based economy.

When Anutin Charnvirakul, now the prime minister, was the minister of public health in the government of Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, he issued a regulation removing cannabis from a list of narcotic drugs in June 2022.

But few other regulations existed to govern cannabis usage, and a free-for-all ensued, with recreational use skyrocketing and thousands of weed shops sprouting all over the country.

Bhumjaithai proposed a law to plug the holes, but the Prayut government’s term ran out before it could be debated.

The Pheu Thai government under Paetongtarn Shinawatra subsequently proposed a new bill to regulate the cannabis industry but it failed to make headway before her administration lost power last year.

Mr Pattana said earlier this year that there were about 11,000 cannabis dispensaries in Thailand. He estimated that within three years there would be only about 2,000 left that met the requirements for clinics.