Purchasing cannabis in Thailand will soon necessitate a medical certificate.
Thailand Introduces Medical Certificate Requirement for Cannabis Purchases
Thailand is gearing up to tighten its control over cannabis usage, three years after it was decriminalized, by mandating medical certificates for all purchases. This move, announced by a senior official, aims to prevent recreational use and ensure proper medical governance of the drug.
Initially, Thailand's cannabis legalization occurred without a system in place to regulate its sale, production, or usage. This resulted in a swift explosion of vendors across the nation, particularly in popular tourist destinations such as Bangkok and Phuket.
Interviews with Reuters revealed that Somruek Chungsaman, head of the health ministry's department of traditional and alternative medicine, stated that individuals wishing to buy cannabis flowers for smoking, whether Thai or foreign, must produce a doctor's prescription for medical purposes. The new regulation, set to be unveiled within the next 40 days, is intended to maintain cannabis for medical purposes alone rather than recreational consumption.
"We do not wish for people to claim they visited Thailand primarily to smoke cannabis, as it gives a negative impression," Chungsaman noted.
The Thai health minister previously proposed a ban on recreational cannabis use by the end of 2024, but the industry, estimated to exceed US$1 billion in annual value, remains largely unregulated.
To date, the Thai authorities have issued piecemeal regulations, prohibiting cannabis from schools and mandating clear information about cannabis use in food and drinks for retailers. However, a comprehensive cannabis law is currently under development by the Thai Ministry of Public Health, requiring Cabinet approval before it proceeds to parliament for debate.
Cannabis advocates challenge the necessity of medical certificates, emphasizing that demand for the drug has decreased following an initial surge, and it is not particularly popular among youth.
- TAGS
- Thailand
- Medical cannabis
- Certificates
- Recreational ban
- The proposed policy-and-legislation in Thailand seeks to curb recreational cannabis use by requiring medical certificates for purchases, aligning with the general-news of tightened control over the drug.
- The economy of Thailand's cannabis industry, estimated to exceed US$1 billion, remains unregulated, as the Thai Ministry of Public Health works on a comprehensive cannabis law, expected to undergo Cabinet approval and parliamentary debate.
- Health-and-wellness proponents question the necessity of medical certificates for cannabis purchases, citing reduced demand and lower popularity among young people, yet the goal is to maintain the drug solely for medical purposes.
- Amidst the ongoing debates on medical cannabis, the Thai government's recent move to introduce medical certificate requirements for purchases serves as a valuable step in the regulation of the burgeoning business sector, contributing to Thailand's economy and public health.
