Cannabis in Thailand

In Thailand, cannabis, known by the name Ganja (Thai: กัญชา; RTGS: kancha) has recently had new laws passed through. Cannabis that has less than 0.2% THC, referred to as industrial hemp in USA, was legalised on 9 June 2022. Medicinal cannabis, with no THC restrictions, was made legal in 2018 but required patients to obtain a prescription from a medical practitioner. Recreational cannabis is still illegal^{[citation needed]} according to Thai law.

Possession, cultivation, distribution, consumption, and sales of all cannabis plant parts are legal, as long as it is operated under the 2 laws. Cannabis extracts and cannabis products (including edibles, food supplements, cosmetics, etc.) containing more than 0.2% THC by dry weight are still categorised as a Category 5 narcotic.

Import and export of cannabis are still highly regulated.

Sales of cannabis plant parts, products, and edibles are prohibited to minors (under 20-years-old), pregnant women, and breastfeeding women. Cannabis smoke is considered a public nuisance and thus prohibited in public areas.^[1]^[2]

On 8 May 2022, Thailand's health minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced in a Facebook post that the government will distribute one million free cannabis plants to households across the country, starting on the 9 June. The move is said to be a step further into Thailand's plan to use cannabis as a cash crop.^[3]^[4]

^ "Notifications of the Ministry of Health Re : Specifying the Category V Narcotic Substance 2565 BE (2022 AD)" (PDF). Royal Thai Government Gazette. 8 February 2022. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 April 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
^ "Act Promulgating the Narcotic Code 2564 BE (2021 AD)" (PDF). Royal Thai Government Gazette. 7 November 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 June 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
^ "Thailand to give away one million free cannabis plants to households, minister says". KMIZ. 11 May 2022. Archived from the original on 30 June 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
^ "Explained: Why Thailand will distribute 1 million cannabis plants to households". The Indian Express. 12 May 2022. Archived from the original on 16 May 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2022 – via Yahoo! News.

[Thai3-1] "Notifications of the Ministry of Health Re : Specifying the Category V Narcotic Substance 2565 BE (2022 AD)" (PDF). Royal Thai Government Gazette. 8 February 2022. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 April 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2022.

[Thai1-2] "Act Promulgating the Narcotic Code 2564 BE (2021 AD)" (PDF). Royal Thai Government Gazette. 7 November 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 June 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2022.

[3] "Thailand to give away one million free cannabis plants to households, minister says". KMIZ. 11 May 2022. Archived from the original on 30 June 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2022.

[4] "Explained: Why Thailand will distribute 1 million cannabis plants to households". The Indian Express. 12 May 2022. Archived from the original on 16 May 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2022 – via Yahoo! News.

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