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Tuesday, January 18, 2022, / 02:35 PM / by Straits Times / Header Image
Credit: Harvard
Health
Thailand plans to decriminalise marijuana, moving a
step closer to clearing its use for recreation, after becoming the first
country in South-east Asia to legalise medical cannabis and its use in food and
cosmetics.
The nation's Food and Drug Administration is set to
propose the removal of marijuana from a list of controlled drugs to the
narcotics control board on Wednesday (Jan 19).
Once cleared by the board, the proposal will need to
be approved by Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul before it becomes effective.
The move could allow people full access to marijuana
without the fear of lengthy prison sentences and hefty fines, according to Dr
Withid Sariddeechaikool, a deputy secretary-general of the FDA.
Currently, possession of cannabis in Thailand could
land its owner in jail for up to 15 years, as the plant is a category-5
narcotic drug.
"If we're able to decriminalise marijuana, we
will be able to benefit from all of the plant and not just parts of it,"
Dr Withid said.
"The flower buds and seeds could be used
economically and in compliance of the law."
Thailand has pursued a piecemeal approach to
liberalising marijuana, retaining many laws that restricted the growing,
harvesting and extracting of the cash crop.
With marijuana classified as a narcotic, individuals
are barred from possessing it though the country has allowed businesses more
access to the plant. Last year, the country decriminalised kratom, a
psychoactive plant similar to opiates that is native to tropical South-east
Asian countries.
"While the law change will allow all parts of
cannabis to be bought, sold and used, recreational use will likely remain
controlled, as marijuana extracts with higher tetrahydrocannabinol levels that
get people high will still be regulated," said Mr Chaiwat Sowcharoensuk,
an analyst at Krungsri Research.
"Producers of soaps, beauty products and
cosmetics from marijuana will likely be the ones to benefit the most from the
decriminalisation."
Credit:
The post Thailand
Plans to Decriminalise Marijuana first appeared in www.straitstimes.com on January 18, 2022.
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