Thailand

Thailand’s health minister helped plant cannabis seedlings Thursday as the government nurtures plans to harvest the multibillion-dollar potential of medical marijuana. The kingdom in 2018 became the first country in Southeast Asia to legalise medical marijuana, although many Thais have long used the herb in traditional treatments. The government has invested in the extraction, distillation and marketing of cannabis oils for use in the health industry. Wearing a hairnet and green gardening gloves, deputy prime minister Anutin Charnvirakul joined health officials planting seedlings at Thailand’s second industrial-scale marijuana greenhouse at Nong Yai, Chonburi province. In a statement, Anutin said the […]

For decades, Thailand was at the forefront of the war on drugs. Known for flooding the world with drugs from the Golden Triangle, Thailand’s laws became so tough, the country now tops the list in Asia for the rate of incarceration. But recently, the military-led government shocked the world by announcing plans to legalise medical marijuana, or cannabis. Supporters promise a plant that could alleviate poverty and even cure cancer. As the new law takes effect, 101 East investigates how many of these promises are hype and how many are politics. Join the conversation @AJ101East Source: Al Jazeera ShareThis post was originally […]

Things have moved slowly since Thailand’s parliament voted to approve a medical marijuana program in December 2018—which is hardly surprising, given that Southeast Asia has some of the world’s most draconian cannabis laws. But on Aug. 4 the Thai cabinet signed off on a proposal to finally allow commercial cultivation, including for export. The proposal, submitted by the Public Health Ministry, is in the form of a package of amendments to the country’s harsh Narcotics Drugs Act. If it clears parliament, which seems likely, it could mean the rapid emergence of a new industry in Thailand. “The law will promote the pharmaceutical […]