Image Source: Thailand has relaxed its cannabis rules, but tourists could still fall foul of the law if they consume marijuana in the wrong place. Photograph: Vachira Vachira/NurPhoto/Rex/Shutterstock
Thailand has turned the country’s prohibition on the narcotic into a “weed Wild West” with muddled regulations. What then are visitors permitted to do?
Consuming Cannabis In Thailand
Cannabis cafes and marijuana stores are increasingly widespread in Thailand since last year, when the government delisted certain marijuana plant parts as narcotics.
But complex legislative changes and ongoing discussions about what activities should be legal have produced what has come to be known as “a weed Wild West” that might get visitors into trouble. Kitty Chopaka, an independent cannabis supporter living in Bangkok, claims that after legalization, “no one really [knows] whether we have the correct information.”
According to a new handbook released by the ministry of public health, visitors are safe “as long as they adhere to a few basic regulations. Mendel Menachem of cannabis information hub High Thailand asserts that there is nothing to fear.
What is therefore acceptable and what is prohibited?
Who may ingest marijuana?
It is lawful for people over the age of 20 who are not pregnant or nursing to ingest cannabis.
Where can you consume it?
It can be smoked inside a person’s home, and cannabis-infused food may be eaten at a restaurant with a permit. The fine for smoking marijuana in public locations including schools, temples, and shopping centers is 25,000 Baht ($750), and a three-month jail term is also an option. People should generally be mindful to avoid “encroaching” on other people’s space, according to Chopaka.
Where can you purchase it?
Over 5,000 marijuana dispensaries sell cannabis flowers, pre-rolled joints, edibles with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels under 0.2%, infused meals, and CBD oil across the nation. Dispensaries are widely available in cities like Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Pattaya. But strive to only purchase items from trustworthy, authorized stores, advises Chopaka.
Can it be grown?
Individuals must register with the nation’s Food and Drug Administration in order to cultivate cannabis. Additionally, a license is required to use cannabis flower buds for study, export, or processing into products for sale.
Just how much can you consume?
Menachem claims that there is no restriction on personal consumption. However, the ministry’s guidance does not recommend driving after intoxication.
What still violates the law?
No parts of the plant or its seeds may be brought into or taken out of the nation by visitors. Additionally, obtaining permission to possess extracts with a THC content higher than 0.2% is necessary, which is unlikely for visitors to do.
According to Menachem, “People who live here and use [cannabis] appropriately and responsibly would hope that our guests and visitors will respect Thailand and the people around them and do things responsibly.”
Medical cannabis professional based in Phuket, Thailand.
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