Cannabis and cannabinoids in Thailand

Thailand: The Move Forward Party, which won the most seats in the recent election, has announced an eight-party governing coalition, with one of its 23 “key missions” being to reclassify cannabis, “with new laws regulating and supporting its beneficial uses”, press reports. Prime-minister-in-waiting Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of Move Forward, said: “Those involved in illegal imports, who open shops without any permits, will face the full weight of the law so that we can control and slowly adjust Thai society, especially schoolchildren, to exposure to cannabis.” The Bhumjaithai Party, which ushered in cannabis reform, is not part of the coalition, but coalition leaders have said negotiations with other parties will continue since the eight parties still do not hold a majority of seats in parliament.

Thailand: A bill to regulate cannabis will not be passed during the current parliamentary session and will have to be addressed again in the new parliament after the 7th May elections, press reports. The Bhumjaithai Party, which has spearheaded cannabis legalisation efforts, say they will resubmit the bill in the next parliament. The government removed cannabis from its narcotics list last June but has not passed legislation to regulate it. Cannabis legalisation has become a hot-button issue for the upcoming election.

Thailand: The Democrat Party, a member of the government coalition that currently holds 51 of 500 seats in the House of Representatives, is vowing to re-criminalise recreational cannabis and support medical use only in its campaign for the May election, press reports. The stance represents a break from the party’s pro-cannabis coalition partner, the Bhumjaithai Party. Cannabis legalisation has become a hot-button issue for the upcoming election and its fate could hang on election results.

Thailand: The Thai House of Representatives failed to reach quorum on a vote on the Cannabis and Hemp Bill and was therefore unable to vote on the bill, press reports. Although enough representatives appeared to be present, several apparently did not vote, leading to an adjournment. This is the second delay on the bill in the House after it voted in September to withdraw it. The bill, which would regulate cannabis and hemp after the cannabis plant was removed from the country’s narcotics list, has clearly become a political controversy, bringing its passage into question.

Thailand: The Ministry of Public Health has published restrictions on cannabis, effective immediately. The announcement restates some rules that were already in place, such as prohibiting cannabis sales to under-20s and to pregnant women, but also adds new restrictions. It prohibits the sale of cannabis for on-site consumption unless by a medical practitioner, as well as banning online and vending-machine sales, and advertisements for cannabis flower.