PATTAYA, Thailand – Thailand’s roller-coaster hashish guidelines are in flux once more after a promise by the Ministry of Public Well being to undertaker a assessment. This comes after mounting stress from the marketing campaign group Writing Thailand’s Hashish Future (WTCF) which helps the nascent trade.
The community is asking for a cancellation of the 2025 ministerial announcement – beneath the now defunct Pheu Thai administration – to require purchasers to go to a physician and procure a medical certificates prior to purchasing from a registered clinic. The listing of maladies included continual ache, insomnia, epilepsy and Parkinson’s illness, apparently banning weed as a leisure drug.
Thailand as soon as had very strict penalties in opposition to hashish, however legalized it for medical functions in 2018. In 2022 the Meals and Medication Administration eliminated the drug and hemp from the listing of narcotics. That in flip led to round 18,000 shops opening nationwide, particularly in vacationer oriented cities, with minimal controls by the state. Claims that almost all outlets and weed cafes have now closed is disputed by many residents.
Pattaya retailer Ake Khatttiyadamrong urged the brand new authorities, beneath liberal-minded premier Anutin Charnvirakul, to revert to the 2022 declaration which allowed hashish gross sales and not using a prescription. Reformers are additionally calling for the introduction of a hashish well being card to permit buy in shops with out common journeys to the physician’s workplace.
WTCF secretary normal Prasitchai Nunuan mentioned public issues about misuse had been exaggerated by these wishing hashish to be outlawed once more. He defined there have been already legal guidelines in place to guard kids and pregnant girls, while stopping open promoting and gross sales close to faculties, temples and hospitals.
Many vacationers in Pattaya have advised Pattaya Mail that it’s nonetheless simple to buy hashish over-the-counter. They are saying that many shops can prepare a medical certificates with out the shopper needing to go to a physician. Police have beforehand acknowledged that they nonetheless await clear directions, while explaining that the foundations ought to be enforced by the Meals and Medication Administration. Nonetheless, FDA may be very wanting inspectors.
The Ministry of Public Well being will now assign the Division of Thai Conventional and Different Drugs to conduct a assessment in the course of the present month and submit suggestions to the minister for onward transmission to the Cupboard. With a normal election looming, a controversial topic corresponding to hashish may have to attend for a crystal-clear standing.
