FAQ: Buying | Selling Cannabis in Thailand

[Sundance2020]

Grow and Plant “as many cannabis plants as you like” in Thailand from June 09.2022

People in Thailand will be allowed to grow “as many cannabis plants” as they like in their own homes from June 9, according to Thailand’s health minister and medical marijuana king Anutin Charnvirakul. However… If you don’t read the fine print you can still get into trouble with the law. As usual, the fine print is confusing.

• Condition #1:
  The plants must be medical grade cannabis used for medicinal purposes only. Growing marijuana for recreational use is not allowed.
• Condition #2:
  You must inform the authorities first. Anutin says people will not need to officially register to grow weed at home, but they should inform the authorities so that Thailand can meet the requirements of international treatise.

Right now, no clear details have been revealed about how one proves their cannabis plant will be used for medical purposes, or about which authorities need to be informed and how. Hopefully, Anutin will extrapolate on these points prior to June 9.2022

At Anutin’s latest medical marijuana conference at Sisaket Rajabhat University, the health minister reminded everyone that marijuana was removed from the list of narcotics in February and the 120 waiting period after the delisting will be up on June 9.2022

Apparently, there are currently 100,000 patients in Thailand receiving marijuana to treat their illnesses.

Anutin encourages farmers and entrepreneurs to utilise the economic potential of the plant and implement marijuana into their crops and products. He wants marijuana to “relieve the economic hardship of the people”. As the bid for the premiership gains steam, Anutin’s face keeps popping up and cannabis remains a hot topic. Is cannabis legalisation enough to get Anutin into the Prime Minister’s office?

[Sundance2020]

Thailand Laws on Cannabis with low THC Content



As Thailand gets more cannabis friendly, with a boom in products stamped with a pot leaf logo, cafes selling cannabinol tea, even Pizza Company is selling a “Crazy Happy Pizza,” the government looking to loosen laws even more on the once criminalised plant.

Parts of the plant with low traves of the psychoactive component tetrahydrocannabinol, like the leaves and stem, were taken off the Narcotics List in December 2020. While the flowers and buds remained classified as a Category 5 narcotic as those parts were typically rich in THC.

But laws, classifying some parts of the plant legal while parts illegal, prevented commercialism of the plant. Now, cannabis flowers and buds, with less than 0.2% THC, will be legal to use, process, and sell. Under a new Narcotics Code, which the Bangkok Post says went into effect on Thursday, cannabis is no longer listed, but the Public Health Ministry still needs to announce a revised narcotics list. Cannabis extracts containing more than 0.2% of THC will still be illegal.

The Ministry is pushing to fully legalise the cannabis plant, with Public Health Minister and leader of the Bhumjaithai Party party Anutin Charnvirakul has been on the forefront of cannabis legalisation. Over the weekend, he visited Nakhon Phanom for the “Cannabis Kickoff on Mekong Bank.”

“What we have achieved so far is to declare that cannabis stems, roots, leaves and sprigs are not drugs. Starting next year, we’ll remove everything — stems, roots, sprigs, leaves, buds, flowers and seeds — from the narcotics list.”

At the event over the weekend, Anutin encouraged the public to start growing cannabis for some extra cash. Those with permission from the government can grow cannabis and there is no cap on how many plants each household can grow.

[Logan]

Government Message to Thailand’s Pot Gowers.....

People planning to grow cannabis after it was removed from Thailand’s list of controlled drugs should hold fire as the new law is not in effect yet. So says deputy PM Wissanu Krea-ngam, who points out that the regulation only relates to some cannabis products, not all. The Bangkok Post reports that the law will be implemented 120 days after it’s been announced in the Royal Gazette. At this point, Wissanu says there will be more clarity provided on what constitutes the legal use of cannabis.

On Tuesday, the Narcotics Control Board approved the Public Health Ministry’s proposal that cannabis and hemp be legalised, with the exception of cannabis extracts containing more than 0.2% by weight of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Health minister Anutin Charnvirakul will now endorse it and the final step will be publication in the Royal Gazette. Until then, Wissanu says people shouldn’t jump the gun, adding that anyone caught growing cannabis before the new law is enacted will face prosecution.

“Just hold your horses for the time being. Until the law is cleared, caution should be exercised. It isn’t something that can be done freely.”

Meanwhile, Anutin’s Bhumjaithai Party is proposing a bill to regulate the use of cannabis other than for medicinal or research purposes. Wissanu says he believes the bill would help alleviate concerns that the new law means Thailand is violating 3 international anti-narcotics conventions it previously signed up to.

“The bill will show the country remains vigilant and committed to keeping the use of cannabis in check.”

According to the report, the oldest convention dates back to 1961 and requires legal enforcement against narcotics in signatory countries. The conventions prohibit the use of cannabis unless for medical or research purposes. Wissanu says even regulating cannabis use for these reasons won’t be easy, pointing out that authorities don’t have the means to quickly check THC levels and this could lead to wrongful arrests.

[Xerxes]

1000's Apply for ‘Weed Licenses’

Cannabis will be delisted as a narcotic in Thailand on June 9, and thousands of people and organisations have already submitted applications for a “weed license” to Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration, or FDA.

The big questions such as “Can my home grown marijuana plant contain high levels of THC?”, “Does my medical condition qualify for cultivating and consuming marijuana at home?” and “Do the same rules apply to Thai nationals and foreigners?” are yet to be answered.

The license allows individuals or companies to import, possess, grow and produce cannabis or hemp. So far, the FDA has received 4,717 applications. The licenses will allow companies to use marijuana as an ingredient in medicinal products, cosmetics and food and drinks.

An FDA official said that 80 licenses have been issued thus far for the production of cannabis, hemp and cannabidiol, or CBD, products, including hemp seed oil, dietary supplements, beverages, seasoning sauce, jelly candy and instant food.Without FDA approval, marijuana remains an illicit drug in Thailand. Possession of 10 kilograms of cannabis or more is a crime punishable by 15 years in prison and carries a fine of 1.5 million THB Consumption of marijuana carries a jail term of one year and a fine of 20,000 THB.

Currently, Thailand is pushing the medicinal and economic benefits of CBD, rather than tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. The Thai law currently allows marijuana products to contain less than 0.2% THC.However, the first US-owned medical cannabis clinic in Thailand predicts that changes to the Thai law will be made following the delisting next month which could allow higher levels of THC to be used in medicinal marijuana products, such as oil used to treat a range of illnesses such as Parkinson’s, cancer and insomnia.

Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul previously told the public they may grow marijuana in their own homes from June 9, under strict conditions. Anyone who wants to cultivate marijuana at home must first get the green light from the FDA. Firstly, they must notify the public health office in their province about how many marijuana plants will be grown, where exactly they will be grown and for what purpose (it must serve a medicinal purpose). The office will forward the proposal to the FDA and once it is approved, marijuana can be grown legally at home.

While Anutin said you can grow “as many plants as you like,” individual households can in fact grow up to six marijuana plants at home with approval from the FDA. Those who are registered as a community enterprise (at least seven people) and have sought a license from the FDA can grow an unlimited number of marijuana plants. Only community enterprise marijuana can be extracted into products for sale with a THC concentration of lower than 0.2%. Home-grown marijuana cannot be advertised for sale, unless it has been given special approval by the FDA.

[Sundance2020]

Anutin to give away 1 Million Cannabis Plants to Thai Households

Thailand’s kind-hearted Public Health Minister says he will offer households a million cannabis plants for free from next month. Anutin Charnvirakul’s generous gesture is to mark June 9, from when people will be legally permitted to grow cannabis plants in their own homes. However, it will have to be medical-grade cannabis only and can only be used for medicinal purposes. According to a Nation Thailand report, there will be no official registration required to grow the plant at home.

Yesterday, Anutin took to Facebook to confirm his 1 million plant giveaway. He also explained that Thai companies registered to do so can sell cannabis products that have less than 0.2% tetrahydrocannabinol. THC is the part of the plant responsible for getting people high. The health minister says people can also operate cannabis-related businesses under the relaxed rules.

“This will enable people and the government to generate more than 10 billion baht (per year) in revenue from marijuana and hemp. Meanwhile, people can showcase their cannabis and hemp-related products and wisdom and sell their products nationwide.”

Anutin adds that small sellers of marijuana products are not required to register with Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration, although bigger businesses must obtain FDA permission to operate. According to the Nation Thailand report, supporters of the relaxed law hope it could help revive the economy following the pandemic. In 2018, Thailand became the first Southeast Asian country to legalise medical marijuana.

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Thai Health Minister defends decision to decriminalise Cannabis



The Thai Deputy PM and Minister of Public Health today defended his decision to legalise Cannabis.

Anutin Charnvirakul, speaking at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand, was grilled by journalists about his decision to decriminalise the drug on June 6, and insisted it was the right decision.

“Unfortunately, due to the Covid-19 issue, the Cannabis Act could not be finished in parallel to the date that we freed cannabis from narcotics. I anticipate the next question from the public will be, ‘Why I didn’t wait until the law was imposed?’ No way. No, sir. I won’t wait. I will never delay. Even if I could turn back time.”

The 55 year old, and the Thai government have been criticised after a number of controversial cannabis-related incidents have hit the nation’s headlines. There has been an increase in hospital cases, incidents regarding children, and a rise in shops selling the product. But the health minister stood firm and reiterated cannabis was decriminalised for the good of the kingdom’s health.

“Because there were patients waiting for their treatments with herbal remedies. There were farmers waiting to harvest and get their first crop, waiting for their incomes during current economic difficulties. “There were SME businesses, investments, planning, and deals that were ready to get going. It would be unfair if the government would cause this damage to these decent people.”

Anutin predicted the future of Thailand’s cannabis industry would be worth up to US$3 billion and would become a “medical hub” in Asia within 5 years. Chokwan “Kitty” Chopaka, founder and chief executive of cannabis-focused consulting firm Elevated Estate, also spoke at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand and admitted the government could have advised the public better on cannabis use.

“I understand that the health ministry cannot promote recreational use or smoking, but at the same time, by not giving the public information, people would not know what to do. “Think about it. If you keep on telling them, ‘Just say no,’ or ‘don’t do it wrong,’ or ‘don’t do this’ without telling them how to do it, what are you going to expect?”

Kitty added that the nation has struggled from a lack of general knowledge on the cannabis subject.

“I want rules that make sense because if the rules don’t make sense, people are just not going to follow. It’s the same as taxes: If you throw like 40%-50% tax on it, it doesn’t make sense. And people are going to go back to the underground.”

The Cannabis Act only passed its first reading in Parliament a month ago and the final regulations won’t be in place until September. The health minister says a group of commissioners has been elected to amend the bill and make proposals to Parliament for the final endorsement which is expected to be finished next month.

[Sundance2020]

Download the ‘Plook Ganja’ App to legally grow Cannabis in Thailand



Starting from June 09.2022 downloading the “Plook Ganja” mobile application will be the only requirement to legally grow cannabis and hemp plants at home in Thailand. Today, the Ministry of Public Health announced that all parts of marijuana and hemp plants will be delisted as a narcotic from June 9, except for extracts containing more than 0.2% tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, which are still considered illegal category 5 narcotics.

The Thai government expects cannabis growers to use parts of the plant in cooking, e.g. boiling the leaves to use in Tom Yam soup, or for “medicinal purposes.” However, rolling up and smoking high-grade THC marijuana flowers is still very much illegal in Thailand. So if you have registered with the “Plook Ganja” (Grow Cannabis) application, you can grow cannabis, but you can’t get high.

If your plant is a female – she may grow “buds” – the THC-rich flowers of a cannabis plant. As the Thai law currently stands, you won’t get in trouble if your plant grows buds, but you will break the law if you smoke the flowers or extract them into a product containing more than 0.2% THC.

Anyone who wishes to import cannabis and hemp seeds, leaves or branches from overseas does not need a permit, but does need to seek permission to do so according to the Plants Act 1975 and Plant Quarantine Act 1964, according to the Director-General of Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration Dr. Withit Saritsadeechaikul.

If you have a question about growing marijuana at home in Thailand, call 025907767 or 025907793 or contact your provincial public health office.

[Videoking]

Smoking Cannabis recreationally is still illegal, warns Department of Public Health

Cannabis smoke is a “public nuisance” and smoking it recreationally – at home or in public – is illegal, warns Thailand’s Department of Public Health. From June 9, growing cannabis plants at home will become legal, but smoking cannabis recreationally will remain a punishable offence.

The only prerequisite to legally growing cannabis at home, from June 9, is downloading and registering via the Plook Ganja mobile application. All parts of cannabis and hemp plants will be delisted as a Grade 5 narcotic from June 9, but consuming or smoking high-grade tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, flowers will still be illegal, in whichever form.

The aim of growing cannabis at home is not to get high, but to use the plant’s leaves or stalks in cooking or tea, for medicinal purposes only. People will also be permitted to make extracts from their homegrown cannabis plants, as long as the THC content is lower than 0.2%.

To prevent misuse of cannabis, Director-General of the Department of Public Health Suwanchai Watthanayingcharoenchai suggests that there should be clear rules set out to control cannabis use. Suwanchai fears that with all the fuss surrounding the quasi-legalisation of cannabis in Thailand, people might wrongly assume that they can use cannabis recreationally.

Suwanchai said cannabis smoke is annoying and can be harmful to other people’s health, which is why releasing cannabis smoke into the air is illegal. Suwanchai suggests that releasing cannabis smoke should be written into the Public Health Act as a “an act of public nuisance” so that annoyed neighbours can file complaints if they are annoyed by clouds of smelly cannabis smoke. The department will put the suggestion forward to the Ministry of Public Health in an upcoming meeting on May 30.

The proposed penalty for those causing “public nuisance” by cannabis smoke should firstly be warned to stop. If they fail to stop, then they should face up to one month in jail, a fine of up to 2,000 baht, or both.

[Nerd]

Decriminalisation of Cannabis in Thailand: Can I get high or not?

As “Ganja Day” approaches on June 9, Thailand’s Ministry of Health wants to be clear about one thing: Smoking cannabis recreationally is a criminal offence punishable by three months imprisonment. Cannabis smoke has been written into new legislation as a “public nuisance,” allowing anyone annoyed by the smell of cannabis smoke to report the culprit, who can go to prison for up to 3 months if found guilty.

On June 9, all parts of cannabis and hemp plants – including leaves, barks, body, fibres, branches, roots, seeds and inflorescences – will be delisted as a Category 5 narcotic, essentially decriminalising possession of marijuana in Thailand. Extracts containing more than 0.2% THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, are still classified as a Category 5 narcotic.

People in Thailand will legally be able to grow as many cannabis and hemp plants as they like at home without seeking permission from June 9. The only requirement will be to register through the “Plook Ganja” mobile application, which is not yet available on the app store. It is not yet clear whether the application will be limited to Thai nationals, or if foreigners residing in the kingdom will be allowed to grow cannabis too.

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul previously promised to give away one million cannabis plants to the population of Thailand. But, the law states that homegrown cannabis plants, and any extracts made from them, must have a THC content of less than 0.2%. THC is the psychoactive component of marijuana… AKA the part which gets you high.

If Anutin’s free ganja plants materialise, they will either be male plants which cannot produce THC-rich flowers or hemp plants, which contain no THC, only CBD – cannabidiol – a component which has medicinal properties but certainly doesn’t have psychoactive effects. So if you grow cannabis according to the law, you certainly won’t be getting high off your own supply.

Cannabis is a high-profit cash-crop, and Thailand’s quasi-decriminalisation of the plant is designed to develop the country’s medical tourism industry and benefit the economy, not to turn Thailand into the next Amsterdam.

The Thai government is working on formalising a “Cannabis-Hemp Act” which will provide all details needed about growing and commercialising the crop.

For now, getting “high” in Thailand is still illegal.

[Sundance2020]

Cannabis use is banned on Thai University Campuses



The use of cannabis for recreation and cannabis-infused foods and beverages have been banned on the campuses of universities and agencies in Thailand announced the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation. MHESI Minister Anek Laothamatas signed a statement aimed at restricting the use of cannabis in those facilities with immediate effect. The tertiary education rollback is just the start of what will be a nationwide counterpoint to the rather opaque decriminalisation of cannabis products on June 9. At this stage there is no laws in place which restrict the use or sale.

The ruling Thai government, which relies on the votes of 51 Bhumjaithai MPs, has been caught between the gazetted announcement of reclassification of the previously Category 5 drug, and forthcoming legislation which will control its cultivation, sale and distribution. The Bhumjaithai Party went to the 2019 election on a platform of decriminalisation of cannabis. Today’s announcement stated that the use of cannabis and hemp as an ingredient, as well as the advertisement of cannabis-based products, is now banned. However, a university can promote cannabis usage, only if it’s supported by medical professionals’ advice.

Universities and organisations under the jurisdiction of the Public Health Ministry are obliged to closely comply with ministerial regulations on cannabis consumption and other related laws. Furthermore, universities and organisations under MHESI have been instructed to organise activities and produce media to educate students, staff, and residents in the surrounding neighbourhoods about the appropriate use of cannabis, and address the negative impact on the health of those using cannabis extracts containing more than 0.2% of tetrahydrocannabinol.

Using cannabis for medical purposes must be monitored by healthcare professionals and cannabis research must be carefully regulated by university administrators.

All city-run schools under Bangkok Metropolitan Administration control have been labelled cannabis-free zones. The MHESI is urging anyone under the age of 20 and pregnant women to avoid using it because of the potential harm it can do to the health and wellbeing of a person. Cannabis and hemp production, import, export, distribution, usage, and ownership are now legal. However, cannabis oil extracts having more than 0.2% THC are still classified as a Category 5 material and are subject to Thailand’s narcotics control and suppression regulations.

[Barfly]

Phuket Public Health Office says smoking Cannabis is Legal, but…

Today, Phuket’s Provincial Public Health Office made a statement to clear up confusion surrounding new cannabis laws. Smoking cannabis is legal, so long as the smoke does not disturb anyone, according to chief of the Phuket Provincial Health Office Dr. Kusak Kukiatkul.

Cannabis smoke is considered a “public nuisance” in Thailand, and smoking the plant in public places is a criminal offence punishable by up to 3 months in prison or a 25,000 baht fine, or both, if someone reports the smoker. However, possessing and smoking cannabis flowers in private establishments such as at home or in dispensaries, or in remote places, is legal. Smoking cannabis only becomes a crime if someone reports the smoker for causing “public nuisance.”

Dr. Kusak said that cannabis was “unlocked” on June 9 and every part of the marijuana plant was delisted as a Category 5 narcotic. However, extracts made from cannabis which contain more than 0.2% tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, are still illegal. The Royal Gazette has published rules and regulations relating to cannabis, said the doctor. Namely, people under 20 years of age and pregnant and breastfeeding woman are not allowed to buy cannabis or cannabis products. People with heart disease are also discouraged from smoking or ingesting cannabis, said Dr. Susak.

Many schools and universities have banned cannabis from their campuses, including the sale of cannabis or cannabis products, added the doctor. Gorwing cannabis is legal for Thai nationals, so long as they register via the ‘Plook Ganja’ website or mobile application, or with their respective provincial public health office. Foreigners residing in the kingdom are not permitted to grow cannabis.

Dr. Kusak warns that some people are allergic to cannabis. People will cannabis allergies may experience nausea, vomiting and extreme drowsiness about 30 minutes after ingesting cannabis, he said. For this reason, Dr. Susak recommends that people who want to use cannabis should use it medicinally, with the guidance of medical professionals, rather than recreationally. But, smoking cannabis recreationally is legal, according to the doctor.

[Sundance2020]

Smoking and Selling Cannabis in public is illegal, according to the Bangkok Deputy Governor



Bangkok’s deputy governor would like to remind the public that smoking and selling cannabis in public places is illegal. The reminder follows a meeting in which vendors called for the infamous Khao San Road to become a “Ganja Hub.” The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration said: no. Bangkok Deputy Governor Chakkhaphan Phewngam chaired a meeting at Din Daeng City Hall today to listen to the requests of vendors who would like Khao San Road – a popular tourist nightlife destination – to become a “cannabis hotspot.” The president of the Khao San Road Business Association Sanga Ruengwattanakul said it could do a lot for Thailand’s tourism industry.

However, the BMA said the plan was impossible. Chakkaphan cited the cannabis rules and regulations set by the Ministry of Public Health, namely that selling and smoking cannabis in public places is against the law. But, it seems that cannabis vendors have already taken to the streets of Khao San. Pictures posted on social media reveal vendors walking up and down the road selling pre-rolled “joints” at high prices and vans moving around Bangkok selling cannabis like it’s ice cream.

Chakkaphan says what the mobile vendors are doing is illegal because selling cannabis in public places is illegal. It is different from “cannabis dispensaries,” which are registered to sell marijuana at registered locations. Moreover, the Khao San Cannabis Hub idea promotes smoking cannabis in public places, which is also illegal. Cannabis smoke was written into recent legislation as a “public nuisance” and is a criminal offence punishable by up to 3 months imprisonment and a 25,000 baht fine, or both.

Thailand is currently in a phase whereby cannabis is decriminalised, but clear legislation on issues such as consuming, buying and selling is yet to follow. Without clear legislation, it is almost almost impossible to regulate cannabis use. The Ministry of Public Health is currently working on a “Cannabis and Hemp Act” which intends to clear up some of the confusion.

[Barfly]

Negative Effect of Cannabis on Tourism ?

The widely celebrated decriminalisation of cannabis could actually severely damage tourism in Thailand, according to a House committee discussing the 2023 fiscal year budget bill. The committee spokesperson said that a meeting yesterday was discussing money allocation for the Ministry of Public Health when the debate topic turned to the effect of legalised cannabis on the budget. Members of the committee fear that cannabis being legal in Thailand but still illegal in so many surrounding countries could negatively impact tourism, though the argument was vague, and seemed to centre around the idea of Thailand gaining a negative reputation regarding tourism for allowing the consumption of a narcotic within their borders.

From the details released, the discussion seemed to be more of an educational Q & A about cannabis than a legitimate financial concern. Questions were asked about how long cannabis remains in the body in a detectable way, with the Department of Medical Sciences teaching house members that it can be tested in blood within 12 hours and remain in urine for up to a week, though can be identified for up to 2 to 3 months for frequent users. They also inquired about the progress relevant agencies have made regarding preventing children from consuming cannabis, especially in schools. The lack of regulation that came along with the decriminalisation was clearly a point of contention for many government officials.

While Thai policy can seem scattered at best, nowhere has it been more evident than the handling of the decriminalisation of cannabis in the country. Top government officials spent months lauding cannabis as the saviour of Thailand’s struggling economy and tourism industry, with stated goals of making it a cornerstone of medical tourism and a cash crop for growers around the country. But following its decriminalisation, backlash came swiftly.

People who didn’t approve of a Thailand shrouded in weed smoke immediately began pushing to restrict the sale and use of the plan. A slew of negative stories are being pushed out to the press shining light on injuries, crimes, and even death that are all attributed to the newly legal narcotic. While the legalisation of cannabis seems to be widely popular, the pushback has also been severe. The Food and Drug Administration argued that it has given approval to around 1,400 foods and drinks to use cannabis under strict lab research and controls, with appropriate labelling. Selling cannabis to anyone under 20 is banned, as well as smoking in public areas, where smokers can be fined as a public nuisance.

[Barfly]

Pattaya wants its own Cannabis-Control Law

Pattaya’s council is already fed up of waiting for a national cannabis act to be passed, so the city has started to draft its own cannabis-control law. Pattaya’s Deputy Mayor Thitiphan Phettrakul chaired a meeting on Friday to discuss rules and regulations needed to control and prohibit the use of cannabis and hemp, especially in schools. Cannabis was delisted as a Category 5 narcotic in Thailand on June 9, but little to no legislation was passed that aimed to regulate cannabis use such as age limits, demographic groups, or locations where the plant can or can’t be sold.

However, six days after the decriminalisation of cannabis, Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health issued a regulation banning the sale of cannabis to minors, pregnant women, and breastfeeding women. The only current legislation about the public use of cannabis is regarding cannabis smoke, which is considered a “public nuisance.” If cannabis smoke annoys someone, they may report the culprit who may get in trouble with the law if found guilty. Smoking cannabis in a public place is punishable by up to 3 months of imprisonment and a 25,000 THB fine, or both.

Although the sale of cannabis to minors is already banned, Pattaya’s deputy mayor wants more to be done to protect school children from accessing the former drug. Pattaya’s city council will arrange a meeting with school officials to draft prevention measures relating to cannabis. The council also aims to get feedback from school children’s parents to see what kind of cannabis regulations they want to see put in place. Regulations could state that schools cannot serve food that contains cannabis, or that cannabis can only be used with a doctor’s prescription, said the deputy mayor.

[Steve]

E-ganja highly popular with Chiang Mai teens & govt officials

Vendors in the northern province of Chiang Mai have revealed that their best e-ganja customers are either wealthy teenagers or government officials. E-ganja, like an e-cigarette, is a portable electronic device that simulates smoking. But unlike e-cigarettes, the e-ganja electronic device includes cannabis oil instead of tobacco.

One of the positives of using an e-ganja electronic device is that it does not create any smell or give off any smoke, unlike its cigarette counterpart. Media reports reveal that smokers mostly buy e-ganja online, and it’s available for about 3,000 THB. A 22 year old woman, who didn’t want to be named, admitted she and her friends regularly use e-ganja.

“The e-ganja is chargeable and can be used for two to three weeks. It doesn’t cause any smoke and smell, so it won’t bother others. E-ganja became more popular because many people are allergic to the bong or ground cannabis wrapped in paper. With the cannabis oil in e-ganja, smokers know their limits and can control themselves.”

One business owner informed the media that many vendors import e-ganja because it is popular, even among government officials, because it has no smell and smoke.

“No one would know that they are smoking cannabis. But there are still some of my customers who like smoking from a bong. They say it feels much better than the electric one.”

Ganja was removed from the Public Health Ministry’s narcotics list for medical purposes last month. But the ministry has banned smoking cannabis in public and announced that its smell and smoke are a public nuisance. Last month, the police raided shops on Khao San Road for selling ground cannabis wrapped in paper to customers without licenses.

The Chief of Cannabis and Hemp Act, and Bhumjaithai Party MP, Supachai Jaisamut, informed the public last month that the laws to control cannabis businesses will be completed by the end of this month. Supachai added that all sellers and business owners can sell cannabis while the measures and restrictions are still in the grey area, but it shouldn’t be used blatantly.

[Barfly]

Have Fun while it lasts | Resolution to ban Cannabis Cigarettes

Thailand decriminalised the growing, sale, possession, and use of cannabis last month with very little rules or regulations in place to manage the newly legalised drug. Politicians soon announced that they had thought the legalisation would be used mainly for medical purposes, and never intended for it to be a legal recreational drug. Now government officials are taking steps to rein in the widespread popularity of cannabis, with a new resolution to ban all forms of cigarettes that use cannabis extract.

The National Tobacco Products Control Committee put forth the resolution, which would ban the sale not only of electronic cigarettes or vapes that use cannabis extract, but also traditional cigarettes and cigars using the drug, including joints. The ban would severely kneecap the recreational use of cannabis, which has run rampant with about a million people getting a certificate to grow, sell, or use the plant, and shops and stands selling joints and other cannabis products springing up all over the country, especially in tourist areas.

Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul chaired the meeting where the decision was made. The Ministry of Public Health will now formalise regulations, to create new guidelines for the ban on cannabis-infused cigarettes or e-cigarettes, the latter of which would also fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society as well as police forces.

Anutin commented to reinforce that the government and the Ministry of Public Health have always been against the recreational use of cannabis and that the original draft bill that led to the decriminalization of the drug never explicitly mentioned the idea of recreational drug use being permitted. While it is still illegal for minors, sensational stories of children getting access to cannabis products and people suffering seemingly extreme maladies as a result of consuming the newly legal plant have poured across Thailand media and social media.