7-7-2024 (BANGKOK) Thailand’s plan to reclassify cannabis and hemp as narcotics has taken a significant step forward, as a committee tasked with controlling illegal drugs has agreed that these substances should not be used recreationally. This development comes after the country made headlines in 2022 by becoming the first nation in Asia to decriminalize cannabis.
According to a report by the Bangkok Post, all members of the committee unanimously agreed that cannabis should be used solely for medical treatment purposes. Surachoke Tangwiwat, the public health ministry’s deputy permanent secretary, stated that a majority of the committee members also supported the idea of putting cannabis and hemp back on the narcotics list.
The committee is expected to submit its report to the Office of the Narcotics Control Board next week. If the agency approves the recommendations, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be tasked with amending cannabis-related laws and providing criteria for the usage of these plants.
The proposed changes are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2025, marking a significant shift in Thailand’s stance on cannabis just three years after its groundbreaking decision to decriminalize the substance.
Since the decriminalization in 2022, thousands of weed dispensaries and other related businesses have sprouted across the country, capitalizing on the newfound legal status of cannabis. However, this business boom has also sparked concerns among authorities regarding the unregulated recreational use of the substance.
Earlier in 2024, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin ordered officials to take steps to restrict the use of marijuana to medical purposes only, citing potential public health risks and the need for tighter regulations.
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