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 Under Thailand's current drug laws, recreational users of cannabis
can incur tough penalties, including up to 10 years in prison for
possession and hefty fines.
A senior lawmaker in the Bhumjaithai Party, third-largest partner in
the coalition and in charge of the health ministry, said the draft
law would allow up to six marijuana plants per household. Cannabis
is still a drug under Thai law.
"The principle is for medical use, you can have it at home for
ailments, but not smoke it on the street," Supachai Jaisamut told
Reuters.
It would also allow the sale of plants to licensed institutions
under the supervision of an institute for that purpose, Supachai
said.
The proposed Plant-based Drug Institute would have authority to
purchase, extract and export cannabidiol (CBD), the chemical derived
from the cannabis plant, Supachai said, comparing it to the
Californian model.
He said the law could be passed in 6 months after November when
parliament re-opens if there was enough government support.
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The proposal would deliver on an election promise of the Bhumjaithai
Party, which campaigned on a policy to allow Thais to grow cannabis.
Its supporters say the draft law is designed to develop the
Thailand's newly legal medical marijuana industry.
The Food and Drug Administration announced this month a cannabis
business workshop as public and investor interest heighten after the
policy was introduced.
(Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat and Chayut Setboonsarng; Editing
by Raissa Kasolowsky)
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