Residents can grow medical cannabis at home, and companies can produce CBD and hemp products that have less than .2% THC.
On June 9, Thailand residents will be allowed to grow as many medical cannabis plants as they like in their own homes.
To celebrate the historic day, Thai officials are giving away 1 million free cannabis plants for citizens to grow at home. Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced the give-away on Facebook Monday (May 8), to build anticipation for the big day.
The highlights of Thailand’s new weed laws
- Home cultivators don’t need to notify their local government before they start growing, according to a Nation Thailand report
- Cultivators will need to secure additional licenses before growing cannabis plants for non-medical commercial purposes, like a CBD or hemp business
- The Thai government will do regular inspections to discourage unauthorized operations from sprouting up
- Small hemp and CBD sellers can enter the market freely and don’t need to register with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
- Large marijuana-related businesses must receive permission from the FDA before operating
- Households can form grow communities or co-ops that produce cannabis for public and state facilities, including hospitals, or for commercial food and cosmetic products
Big plans for pot in Thailand
The Health Minister also shared plans to get recreational use legalized soon. Thailand officials want to make cannabis one of its top cash crops. About a third of Thailand’s workforce relies on agriculture for labor, according to the United Nations.
“This will enable people and the government to generate more than 10 billion baht [per year] in revenue from marijuana and hemp,” Anutin Charnvirakul explains. “Meanwhile, people can showcase their cannabis and hemp-related products and wisdom and sell their products nationwide.”
Thailand approved medical cannabis in 2018, becoming the first South Asian country to legalize the plant for medical use and study. Last year, drinks and cosmetics companies around the country began launching hemp and CBD products after they were approved as consumer goods.
If you want to celebrate this historic progress with the Thai people, try to find a classic Chocolate Thai stick, or track down some of Futura and delicious Dee Thai gummies.
