By / January 9, 2023

Thailand Publishes Cannabis Guide for Tourists

The Thai Ministry of Health has published a cannabis guide entitled “10 things tourists should know about cannabis in Thailand.” The initiative is said to improve visitors’ understanding of what they can and cannot do with cannabis in the country.

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Thailand First Asian Country to Legalize Cannabis

Thailand was the first Asian country to decriminalize cannabis by removing it from the list of narcotics. However, it did so before any real regulation was even considered. This led to a rush to open stores – more than 2,500 today – and to recreational use that is spiraling out of control in some places.

Thai legislators are currently discussing a bill to regulate the use and sale of cannabis. However, it is unclear whether it will be passed before the House is dissolved later this year, prior to the new elections.

Think Twice Before Travelling to Thailand to Get High

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has insisted that decriminalization aims to promote the medical use of cannabis and to create economic opportunities for the local population. This sentiment is reflected in the recently published guide, which suggests that foreigners who want to travel to Thailand just to get high should think twice.

In the current legal vacuum, hundreds of cannabis dispensaries – recreational and otherwise – have proliferated and are well documented on websites such as Highthailand or Weed.in.th

Guide Aims to Make Things Clear for Tourists

The Ministry of Health says that it wants to ensure that tourists are clear about what Thai law allows with regard to cannabis. It has asked provincial tourist offices to distribute an English-language guide to visitors.

Thai cannabis guide for tourists

It eventually plans to make the guide available in other languages, including Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Russian.

Here Are the 10 Things the Cannabis Guide Says Tourists Should Know

The Thai cannabis guide lists the following things as the ten essential points tourists need to inform themselves on: 

  • It is illegal to transport cannabis seeds or plant parts to and from Thailand for personal use;
  • Cannabis cultivation is legal, but you must register on the Food and Drug Administration’s Plook Ganja app or a government website;
  • The use of cannabis flowers for research, export, and sale, as well as processing for commercial purposes, requires an official license;
  • Persons under 20 years of age, pregnant women, and nursing mothers may not use cannabis except under the supervision of healthcare professionals;
  • Possession of extracts containing more than 0.2% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and synthetic THC is subject to licensing;
  • Cannabis dishes are available in licensed restaurants;
  • Approved cannabis health products are available through specific channels;
  • Smoking cannabis in public spaces, including schools and shopping malls, is illegal;
  • Avoid driving after consuming food or health products containing cannabis and;
  • People who experience serious adverse health effects after consuming cannabis should seek prompt medical attention for treatment.

A copy of the Thai cannabis guide can also be downloaded here.

(Featured image by Maksim Romashkin via Pexels)

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