Thailand Seeks Public Input on Proposed Legislation to Restrict Recreational Cannabis Use

In a move to address concerns over the flourishing recreational use of cannabis following its decriminalization in 2021, Thailand is actively seeking public opinion on a draft bill that aims to outlaw such activities. The Southeast Asian nation, which became the first in the region to decriminalize cannabis, witnessed the rapid growth of a marijuana-related industry estimated to reach $1.2 billion in the coming years.

The initial legislation, implemented within a week of decriminalization, aimed to regulate cannabis use but inadvertently left loopholes for recreational purposes. Now, in response to these challenges and in alignment with an election promise, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is pushing for more stringent regulations, restricting cannabis use exclusively to medical and health-related purposes.

Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew emphasized the need for the new law, stating, “We drafted this law to prohibit the wrong usage of cannabis. All recreational usage is wrong.” The draft, published on the health ministry's website, proposes fines of up to 60,000 baht ($1,700) for recreational use, while advertising or marketing campaigns related to such use could result in jail terms of up to a year or fines reaching 100,000 baht.

Additionally, the draft legislation proposes tougher penalties for cannabis farming without a license, including jail terms of one to three years and fines ranging from 20,000 baht to 300,000 baht. However, the fate of unregulated weed shops and dispensaries remains uncertain, as does the legal status of individuals cultivating cannabis on a household scale, a practice currently allowed with notification to authorities but without requiring a permit.

As the government did not immediately respond to requests for comments on the draft, the public has until January 23 to provide feedback. The cabinet will then consider both the proposed legislation and public input before sending it to parliament for further deliberation.

This story was first reported by Reuters.