Cannabis Research Explores What’s Better: The Illicit Market or Legal Market
by Chane Leigh
Cannabis shop owners in Thailand have been cautioned against using traditional doctors to sidestep the ban on in-store recreational smoking. The warning was issued on Sunday, Nov. 27 by the Public Health Ministry, the government department tasked with managing and overseeing the kingdom’s public health.
Members of the Thai governmental body were prompted to issue the warning after several cannabis shops scattered across Bangkok’s famous Khaosan Road employed traditional doctors to work at their Amsterdam-inspired cafes. Despite being instructed by Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to abide by the law, numerous cannabis shop owners in Thailand are taking advantage of certain loopholes.
Once upon a time, Thailand was renowned for having some of the harshest drug policies in the world. Things have since changed, with cannabis being removed from the list of narcotics in June of this year. Recreational production and consumption remain illegal under the decriminalization law; only medical production and use are allowed.
Charnavirakul, who also serves as the Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, signed a measure in February eliminating cannabis from the Southeast Asian country’s list of controlled drugs. The ministry has faced an uphill battle to prevent uncontrolled recreational use of the plant since legalization transpired in early 2022.
“The ministry did not campaign for people to use cannabis for recreation, so they cannot smoke the decriminalized herb in stores,” he told reporters, adding that lawmakers will supervise cannabis use.
Thailand legalized medical cannabis back in 2018, when it became the first country in Asia to permit the herb’s use for medicinal and industrial purposes. In February 2021, the use of cannabis in food and beverages was also legalized, so long as the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content rests at 0.2% or less. THC is the primary psychotropic constituent in the marijuana plant.
Then, on June 9 of this year, Thai lawmakers decriminalized cannabis. The law, which banished the plant from the country’s category five narcotics list, thrust Thailand into the limelight as the first Southeast Asian country to enact decriminalization. Although the progress is promising, cannabis decriminalization has left many shop owners and consumers unsure about their rights.
Based on regulations outlined by the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, consumers can legally smoke cannabis inside stores that are permitted to function as medical facilities. Thailand’s cannabis law also stipulates that public cannabis consumption is prohibited; anyone who is caught doing so could be sentenced to three months behind bars and be forced to pay a 25,000 Baht penalty. Extracts with a THC content exceeding 0.2% are still illegal in Thailand.
In an effort to stay on top of compliance issues, department director-general Thongchai Lertvilairattanapong has tasked his staff with carrying out store surveys. Lawmakers are now waiting for the verdict on a chunk of legislation that would provide strict oversight and control of cannabis consumption and trade. However, some doctors and MPs are desperately urging for Thailand’s cannabis law to be rescinded.
Staying up-to-date with Thailand’s cannabis laws is essential for foreigners who embark on a trip to the ocean-kissed kingdom. It is especially important to avoid leaving the country with cannabis or hemp. In July, a 25-year-old Brazilian student was arrested in Bali, Indonesia for illegally traveling with 9.1 grams of cannabis that he had purchased in Thailand.
The Thai government has ventured down the route of cannabis decriminalization as a way of boosting tourism revenue following the COVID-19 pandemic, which severely dented the country’s tourism-dependent economy. Of all the tourist hotspots in Thailand, Koh Samui is one of the most popular among tourists. The second-largest island is home to a wide variety of cannabis dispensaries.
Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health aims to encourage the use of cannabis for medical and health purposes. Possession and consumption are limited to people aged 20 years and above; younger consumers can obtain the plant with a doctor’s permission. It is against the law to import cannabis and hemp extracts, cannabis and hemp parts, and all hemp-derived products. However, households can legally cultivate plants at home and cannabis farming activities can be conducted by permit-holding companies.
Although cannabis has been decriminalized across Thailand, the health minister is discouraging tourists from visiting the island-peppered territory for the sole purpose of smoking cannabis. Nonetheless, the Thai Tourism Authority has released a series of guidebooks promoting various cannabis-focused tourism destinations to foreigners.
Looking to find your medical cannabis in a state that hasn’t yet legalized it? It may be tempting to drive across neighboring state lines with more cannabis-friendly laws. However, the number of states that will authorize qualified patients from out-of-state medical marijuana programs is still relatively small. Which States Accept Out-of-State MMJ Cards? States That…
So you love smoking cannabis, but you’re tired of the same ole rolling papers. Perhaps you recently learned about the potential dangers and risks associated with tobacco blunt wraps and want a healthier option. Let’s explore some rolling paper alternatives that work well for blunts, joints, and spliffs. Types of Rolling Paper to Absolutely Avoid…
Bipolar disorder is a complex condition that impacts millions worldwide, leading to extreme mood swings, intense emotional episodes, and difficulty managing day-to-day life. But there may be some good news for those coping with this mental health issue. According to recent research, cannabis could offer unique benefits as part of an approach to managing bipolar…
The war on drugs facilitated by the federal government has been an utter failure. Despite cannabis remaining a Schedule I classification according to the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA), meaning that it has no medicinal value, over 30 states in the United States have legalized it for its medicinal use. While this classification will remain…
Three different types of cannabidiol (CBD) oils produced by Charlotte’s Web have been banned by British regulators. The British Food Standards Agency (FSA) has also disqualified approximately 100 CBD products for undisclosed reasons. In 2018, legislation was passed by the British Parliament that effectively legalized cannabinoids like CBD and CBDA. Despite the law’s passing, CBD…
We sat down with the team at TerraLeaf, a medical cannabis dispensary servicing West Virginia, to ask them the Veriheal 5—five questions…
Gone are the days when cannabis was just an occasional treat—today, it’s a powerful source of holistic healing. According to a 2021…
We all know that cannabis and prednisone can affect our bodies differently when used separately. But if you’re dealing with a pretty…