BANGKOK:Thailand’s Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine has unveiled a comprehensive draft bill aimed at reining in the country’s cannabis sector, establishing a strict regulatory framework focused purely on health and wellness.
The draft Cannabis Control Act introduces six primary measures designed to end recreational consumption and restore legal clarity following the plant’s removal from the official narcotics list.
Officials acknowledged that the initial de-scheduling left a regulatory vacuum, forcing authorities to rely on a patchwork of existing laws that created significant enforcement loopholes.
Dr Tewan Thaneerat, deputy director-general of the department, emphasised that the proposed legislation addresses the entire supply chain, from cultivation and processing to retail and export.
Under the new framework, cannabis use will be strictly confined to conventional healthcare, Thai traditional medicine, academic research and accredited wellness practices.
The draft bill proposes the establishment of a national committee, chaired by the Minister of Public Health, to oversee policy, safety standards and the national regulatory strategy. It also introduces a mandatory three-year licensing system for commercial cultivation, production, import, export and retail, while exempting non-psychoactive plant parts such as roots, stems, leaves and seeds from licensing to support traditional remedies and domestic health applications.
The proposed legislation would prohibit the sale of cannabis to individuals under 20, pregnant women and nursing mothers. It would also ban dispensaries from operating near sensitive public spaces, including places of worship, schools, parks and recreational venues.
In addition, advertising, marketing and public relations campaigns for cannabis flowers, resins and smoking accessories would be prohibited to curb non-medical appeal and recreational misuse. Therapeutic use of cannabis would only be permitted under the prescription and supervision of licensed healthcare professionals.
The draft law also provides for strict statutory penalties. Unlicensed commercial activities and sales to protected groups would carry heavy criminal penalties, including fines and imprisonment, while individuals found using cannabis outside approved medical parameters would face statutory fines. - The Nation/ANN
