New regulation controls cannabis flowers in Thailand

Thailand-

A new regulation to control the use of cannabis flowers has been issued for medical and industrial purposes.

Traisulee Traisaranakul Deputy Government Spokesperson revealed to the press. “The Public Health Ministry Anutin Charnvirakul has signed in regulation on a Controlled Herb (Cannabis) 2565 (2022) which has started today (November 12th).”

“The new regulation is amended from the one that was issued on June 16th, 2022. Cannabis flower buds are being controlled for benefits as a herb. Anyone who wants to use flowers for study, export, sales, or processing for sales must have a permit from relevant agencies,” Ms. Traisulee explained.

“Cannabis flower buds are not allowed to be sold to people under the age of 20, pregnant women or mothers breast-feeding, and students. An exception in these categories is for selling to medical staffers and traditional medical purposes,” Ms Traisulee added.

“Selling cannabis flowers via vending machines, online, at temples, dormitories, public parks, zoos and amusement parks are prohibited as well as all commercial advertising,” Ms. Traisulee noted.

The new regulation also explicitly bans cannabis flower smoking at all places of business unless under the jurisdiction and authority of a licensed medical practitioner, medical doctor, or traditional medical practitioner.

The regulation does not ban possession or private smoking of cannabis flowers for those over the age of twenty.

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stated that the tightened regulations were already in a long-delayed draft bill that has been fought over by politicians in the Thai government. As the bill has still not been passed the Ministry of Public Health decided to issue new regulations instead.

Opponents of legal cannabis such as members of the Pheu Thai political party stated earlier today that they feel the new regulations are too lenient and continue to call for cannabis to be made an illegal narcotic once again, which would ban possession, private home growing, and private smoking unless done under medical supervision and approval.

They also said the new regulations had many grey areas, pointing out that it would not be difficult for many dispensaries and cannabis cafes to have a traditional medical staff member on board or on staff in order to legally allow smoking on premises.

Members of the Thai Democrat party have called for all dispensaries and cannabis cafes to be shut down and only reopened if given proper permission from multiple health agencies and licensed as a proper medical clinic.

Most analysts on Thai social media stated that the new regulations, especially around advertising and online sales, were expected and nothing in the new regulations comes as a surprise or would shut down thousands of dispensaries and cafes currently open, pointing out that current permits and licenses to operate were not difficult to get.

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Goongnang Suksawat
Goong Nang is a News Translator who has worked professionally for multiple news organizations in Thailand for many years and has worked with The Pattaya News for more than four years. Specializes primarily in local news for Phuket, Pattaya, and also some national news, with emphasis on translation between Thai to English and working as an intermediary between reporters and English-speaking writers. Originally from Nakhon Si Thammarat, but lives in Phuket and Krabi except when commuting between the three.