With an air buzzing with anticipation and speculation, Thailand’s Public Health Ministry has announced the completion of the first draft of the groundbreaking Cannabis-Hemp Act. Notwithstanding the many rumours circulating, cannabis will not be reclassified as a narcotic under this novel legislation.
Officially unfurling this news was Public Health Minister Chonlanan Srikaew, who highlighted that the fresh legislation is a more polished version of the initial draft. Where once the act sprawled over 94 sections, it has now been elegantly trimmed down to about 70. This renewed version deftly addresses public apprehensions and firmly closes the doors on any loopholes that might have inadvertently indulged recreational use of cannabis.
In the words of the Ministry of Public Health, the heartbeat of the law remains constant. It considers cannabis a regulated herb. Nevertheless, it also introduces a stringent limit. Extracts boasting more than 0.2% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) will bear the formidable label of ‘narcotic’. As Minister Srikaew puts it, “The disposition towards cannabis use for medicinal purposes remains favourable. Yet, any endorsement of recreational use finds no place within the framework of this new law.”
Srikaew unpacked a critical detail: Under the revised law, even personal cannabis cultivation necessitates prior official permission. This was a marked change from the original Cannabis and Hemp Law, which allowed households to nurture up to 15 plants for personal medicinal usage, requiring only a formal notification to local authorities.
Meanwhile, already-licensed cannabis ventures can maintain their operations, conditional upon their commitment to the new rules of the land. This translates into a strict prohibition of cannabis smoking within their premises and a refusal to engage in selling dried cannabis buds.
As Srikaew articulates, “We harbour no intentions of shuttering all cannabis outlets, but undying adherence to the law is non-negotiable.” The ministry has plans to elucidate provisions on prohibited venues for cannabis sales or consumption. “To tackle the challenge of usage control, the new law will pave the path to reducing recreational cannabis use.”
Cannabis legality is not yet black-and-white, though. To a question on the legality of smoking cannabis at home, Minister Srikaew responded with an acknowledgement of its status as a controversial grey area, encouraging more public feedback.
On the issue of whether hemp and cannabis should each have their own set of laws, he noted that this concern had been raised before. However, under the existing stipulations, hemp – a variant of cannabis known for its low THC levels – is bundled in the same category as cannabis.
The Ministry has an open-door policy on receiving feedback. They plan to provide a public window by mid-December for the populace to read the new legislation and share their views. Subsequently, the feedback will be used to review if any tweaks are required before the final draft is prepared for the Cabinet’s perusal.
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