Thread: Country bans recreational cannabis again in major blow to tourism

Be interesting to see how Anutin responds.

Thailand is poised to recriminalise cannabis, a move set to dismantle a burgeoning industry estimated to be worth over £734 million.
The trade has flourished since the substance was delisted from the country's narcotics register in 2022.
The push to reintroduce stringent controls on recreational cannabis use follows a recent political shift within the ruling coalition.

The Bhumjaithai Party, a key proponent of cannabis legalisation, withdrew from the government last week. The departure came amidst scrutiny over Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra's handling of a border dispute with Cambodia.
In a decisive step late on Tuesday, Thailand's health ministry issued an order explicitly prohibiting the sale of cannabis for recreational purposes.
Under the new mandate, any retail purchase will now necessitate a doctor's prescription.


These regulations are expected to come into effect swiftly, once they are officially published in the Royal Gazette, a process that could occur within days.

Three years ago, Thailand became one of the first countries in Asia to decriminalise the recreational use of cannabis, but without any comprehensive rules to govern the sector.
Since then, tens of thousands of shops and businesses selling cannabis have sprung up across Thailand, many of them located in the country's tourism hubs.

https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/s...-b2776598.html

Property prices will drop..

TEFLrs beware! Only one reason left to remain in Thailand, hey? Boohoo.

Policy reversal on use of cannabis buds as herbal medicine

The Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) plans to consult the Ministry of Public Health after Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin issued a ministerial edict on Monday, imposing tighter controls on the use of cannabis buds for medical purposes.


Under the new edict, which will come into force once it is published in the Royal Gazette, cannabis buds will be regarded as controlled herbal medicine. Research, export, distribution or processing of cannabis buds for commercial purpose will require a permit. Use of cannabis buds in outlets and advertising of cannabis buds for commercial purposes through all channels will be prohibited.


ONCB Secretary-General Pol Lt-Gen Phanurat Lukboon said that they have cooperated with several universities in conducting research on the use of cannabis and Kratom leaves since 2019. They discovered that, since cannabis and Kratom plants, which contain psychotropic properties, were removed from the controlled drugs list in 2021-22, the number of cannabis and Kratom users has increased from about 350,000 and 500,000 to about 700,000 and 1.3 million respectively.


As for legitimate cannabis retail outlets, Phanurat said that it is not known yet whether the government or the public health ministry will instigate any measures to help mitigate financial losses if the edict is enforced.

Policy reversal on use of cannabis buds as herbal medicine