Thai government restricts legal use of cannabis after complaints

The government has issued new rules restricting access to cannabis and hemp to people at least 20 years old, after the Decriminalization of cannabis on June 9 has prompted numerous complaints.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul clarified last Thursday that people under the age of 20 will not be allowed to possess or use cannabis unless they have a doctor’s authorization.

These measures follow local reports that four men, including students aged 16 and 17, were admitted to hospitals in Bangkok this week to be treated for cannabis overdose. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration said it is also considering banning cannabis on college campuses.

The government will also issue rules to limit or ban the cannabis use in public and check for the presence of cannabis in food.

Under the regulations proposed by the Department of Traditional and Alternative Thai Medicine, the use of cannabis will be prohibited in public places, such as educational institutions, department stores, and government agencies, and the use of cannabis during pregnancy and after childbirth will also be prohibited.

«We haven’t mentioned the use of flowers, particularly their use in food,» said the Minister of Public Health. «So far, we have the law on THC content.».

The law defines a cannabis extract containing more than 0.2% of THC is intended for medical use only, and is therefore illegal without a prescription, but not the plant itself. Thai law also considers the smoke produced by cannabis use to be a nuisance.

The Ministry of Health has issued guidelines on the use of cannabis in cooking. People should not consume more than two meals containing cannabis per day. Cannabis use in children can affect brain development, according to the guidelines issued by the Thai ministry.