# Thailand introduces new legislation to regulate cannabis

- Link: https://www.thailand-business-news.com/business/163519-thailand-introduces-new-legislation-to-regulate-cannabis
- Published: 2024-09-28T09:25:00+07:00
- Author: Arun Upadhyaya

Thailand proposed a new Bill regulating cannabis for health and medical use, restricting
recreational use, tightening licensing, and allowing public feedback before submission
to the Cabinet and parliament.

## Key Takeaways

 * Thailand has introduced a new Bill to regulate the cannabis industry, focusing
   on health and medical uses while attempting to restrict recreational smoking 
   after prior policy changes.
 * The legislation, published by the Ministry of Public Health under Prime Minister
   Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s administration, omits a clause against recreational 
   use and abandons plans to reclassify cannabis as a narcotic.
 * The draft includes stricter licensing rules for cannabis planting and sales, 
   requiring existing businesses to apply for new permits. Feedback is welcome until
   September 30.

Thailand’s recent proposal for a new Bill aims to regulate its burgeoning cannabis
industry, refocusing its intent on health and medical applications. This development
is part of a broader strategy to tighten regulations following a series of policy
shifts surrounding the use of marijuana, particularly in light of previous recreational
smoking permissions.

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The draft legislation, released by the Ministry of Public Health shortly after the
new Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, assumed office, allows for cannabis 
and its extracts to be utilized for medical treatment and research, as well as in
herbal, food, and cosmetic products.

Significantly, the new Bill demonstrates a softer approach compared to earlier drafts,
notably omitting an explicit ban on recreational use proposed by the previous administration.
It also abandons efforts to re-classify cannabis as a narcotic. Nonetheless, it 
enforces strict penalties for non-compliance. Individuals using cannabis outside
the specified applications face fines reaching up to 60,000 baht, while sellers 
of non-compliant products could face one year of imprisonment or fines up to 100,000
baht, or both.

This regulatory stance, while intended to streamline the burgeoning cannabis market
following its decriminalization in 2022, poses potential challenges for the over
9,400 dispensaries operating nationwide.

The easy access to cannabis had emerged as a contentious political issue, especially
during the last election, leading to mixed signals amid pressure from coalition 
partners to reinstate stricter regulations.

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The draft legislation also proposes tighter controls on licensing for cannabis cultivation,
sales, exports, and imports, mandating that existing operators acquire new permits.
As feedback from the public and stakeholders is requested until September 30, further
modifications may occur before the Bill proceeds to the Cabinet and then to Parliament
for eventual approval.

**Source** : [Thailand unveils new Bill to regulate cannabis while keeping it legal](https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/asean/thailand-unveils-new-bill-regulate-cannabis-while-keeping-it-legal?rand=157097)