After decriminalizing marijuana on June 9th, the Thai government has since legalized it and continued to enact additional laws.
Thailand continues to employ ad hoc tactics to try to regulate cannabis use while the bill to do so is still being read in the House and Parliament and is not yet finished.
Most of the actions taken thus far have been generally wise…
limiting cannabis use to persons over the age of twenty and pregnant women, prohibiting use by Thai pilots, requiring establishments to notify customers if cannabis is included in food or drink, outlawing public smoking due to nuisance regulations, restricting advertising to young people, etc.
The Ministry of the Interior has now requested that all provincial governors tighten regulations in their territories, including banning recreation. Below is a list of the regulations. Although the government continues to claim that marijuana is only for medical use, technically, recreational usage is still lawful in one’s private residence if you are an adult, and rules that may outlaw it are still not enacted into law. It is also unclear how enforcement would work if recreational usage were made illegal. The Thai police have also lately claimed that they are now powerless to prevent adult recreational usage aside from implementing nuisance laws for those who smoke in public upon sufficient complaint.
Suttipong Juljarern, the permanent secretary of the Interior Ministry, issued the directive on June 30. The news of the directive reached the media on July 4.
• Hemp and marijuana cannot be used for recreational purposes.
• It is not permitted to sell or consume food or beverages that have been spiked with cannabis or hemp in government buildings.
• State officials are not allowed to use marijuana or hemp unlawfully or in a way that could harm their reputations.
• Local governments must inform citizens about the advantages and risks associated with marijuana and hemp use.
• Governors, provincial public health offices, and other relevant authorities must disseminate information and encourage public awareness regarding the cultivation and consumption of marijuana and hemp as permitted by law.
• To verify that the amount of cannabis or hemp used in food, drinks, and products supplied in their jurisdictions is within legal bounds, authorities must inspect these items.
