Court to Cancel Most Cannabis-related Cases After New Law

[misskit]

BANGKOK (NNT) - The Office of Judiciary will cancel most ongoing cannabis-related trials and detentions once new cannabis laws take effect on June 9, 2022.


Judiciary Office Spokesperson Sorawit Limparangsri recently disclosed that cannabis-related offenses resulting in court cases and detentions prior to June 9 will be dropped and any bond payments returned. Those imprisoned in related trials for failing to pay fines will also be released.


Defendants awaiting decisions will have their cases dismissed, but they must still appear in court to hear their rulings. On the matter of prison releases, the court will review them on a case-by-case basis before issuing a court order as some cases could still result in jail sentences. The spokesperson also urged relatives of prisoners to submit requests for the review.


The production, import, export, distribution, consumption and possession of cannabis — with the exception of psychoactive substances — will be formally legalized on June 9 when an announcement issued by the Ministry of Public Health and published in the Royal Gazette on February 9 takes effect. Under the new regulations, all parts of cannabis and hemp plants, except for extracts containing more than 0.2% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the plant’s psychoactive ingredient, will be removed from the narcotics list.

Court to Cancel Most Cannabis-related Cases After New Law

[david44]

Slower more dopey people, less able to judge distance, music volume what could pussabley go Bong?

[harrybarracuda]

Slower more dopey people, less able to judge distance, music volume what could pussabley go Bong?

Ah yes, better they stick to drinking copious amounts of alcohol, fight, beat their wives and drive like idiots.

[harrybarracuda]

I'm sorry but they can't just do this without consulting Sybille first. It's an outrage.

[misskit]

Over 3,000 convicted of cannabis-related offenses in Thailand to be freed Thursday


More than 3,000 people serving prison terms for offences related to cannabis or hemp are to be released tomorrow (Thursday) when the announcement of the Public Health Ministry, removing the two plants from the country’s Category 5 narcotics list, becomes effective.


Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin said today that there are currently 4,075 people serving terms in prisons across the country, after being convicted of drug abuse offenses related to cannabis or hemp.


Of these, he said there are 1,004 who were also convicted of other offences, and they will not benefit from the change in the law and will have to serve out their terms for the other offences. The courts will, however, amend their verdicts to expunge the convicts of the cannabis or hemp related convictions.


The prisoners due to be freed tomorrow will have retroactive acquittals ordered by the courts.


Somsak said that all the prisoners to be freed tomorrow have already been informed and officials have been instructed to make sure that the release process goes smoothly.


All cases related to cannabis or hemp still pending with the court, the prosecutors or police, will have to be dismissed or dropped.


Meanwhile, Deputy National Police Chief in charge of narcotics prevention and suppression Pol Gen Roy Inkhapairote said that smoking cannabis will no longer be an offence from tomorrow, but it must not cause a disturbance to other people. If it does, the person responsible could be charged for public nuisance under the Public Health Act, which carries a maximum three-month jail term or a fine of 25,000 baht.


He said that the possession of cannabis or cannabis plants, no matter the amount, is not illegal, but possession for use or for commercial purposes, if it contains the THC compound exceeding 0.2 % or more by weight, without a permit or a doctor’s certificate, without approval from the Thai Food and Drug Administration or the possession of imported cannabis extracts are still regarded as illegal.


He said police will not immediately make an arrest, but will send the suspected extracts to a lab for testing of the THC content, will check the documents or check the sources of the suspected extracts.


Only when there is evidence of wrongdoing will police press charges, he said.


According to Pol Gen Roy, any assets seized, related to cannabis or hemp convictions or arrests by the police, will have to be returned to their owners, unless they were impounded or confiscated on the order of the secretary-general of the Narcotics Control Board or the Assets Examination Committee.

Over 3,000 convicted of cannabis-related offenses in Thailand to be freed Thursday | Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world

[harrybarracuda]

So don't forget, when you apply don't tell them you'll be smoking it or making soup.

After registering on plookganja.fda.moph.go.th and the Food and Drug Administration’s mobile application, individuals can cultivate cannabis without restrictions beginning on Thursday. However, before permission is granted, they must register their personal information and provide a reason for cultivating cannabis.