BangkokPost-June 8
Starting on Thursday, Thais will be able to cultivate cannabis and hemp for home and medicinal use, though there are unresolved questions. The milestone makes Thailand the first Asian nation to decree home cultivation legal, but there are still prohibitions. The government said the primary purpose of the new law is to encourage enthusiasts to use Thai homegrown marijuana to relieve certain health conditions and promote good health at the household level. Thailand already has at least 10 species of local cannabis plants. Recently Thailand made global headlines when the government announced a nationwide campaign to hand out 1 million cannabis seedlings to supply interested growers. Importing cannabis seeds or other parts of the plants and cannabis-infused products are still illegal. People must still seek permission from the government to plant seeds, while other facets of growing are regulated under agriculture law. Finished products brought into Thailand from other countries, either in person by travelers or sent by mail, will be regulated by different laws depending on the product types (the two main categories are imported food products and cosmetics). Anyone intending to grow marijuana and hemp plants at home for health and medicinal purposes can do so by registering on FDA.moph.go.th or the FDA’s mobile application called Plookganja. Home growers can grow as many plants as they want. Market research and data analytics firm YouGov found almost half of Thais have used cannabis-based products in the past two years, while 62% say they are interested in consuming such products in the next 12 months. The report is based on a survey carried out online in February with 2,044 participants aged 18 and older. It found 73% of Thais are aware of the commercial availability of cannabis-based products, ranging from beverages and food to cosmetics. The report found 26% of Thai men and 15% of Thai women are interested in consuming a marijuana product in the next year. Read more at: https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2322378/seeing-through-the-haze-the-new-pot-law
