4 August 2020

Green light to grow marijuana

The cabinet approved a proposal submitted by Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to amend the Narcotics Act to allow patients, medical practitioners and traditional healers to grow cannabis for medical and commercial purposes.

The Narcotics Act had been amended and mandated in 2019 to allow for the medical use of marijuana. However, Mr. Anutin pushed for wider use. The new amendment would allow patients with a medical certificate, medical practitioners, traditional healers or folk healers to grow cannabis for medical treatment, said deputy government spokeswoman Traisuree Taisaranakul. The amendment would also allow manufacturers of medical products to produce, import and export or possess the Category 5 narcotic cannabis.

The existing law allows only state agencies and those who sought permission working with state agencies, to produce, import or export cannabis. Medical practitioners and folk healers are not allowed to grow cannabis for medical treatment.

The draft amendment also allows marijuana seized in drug crackdowns to be used for producing medical cannabis if need be.

Mr. Anutin said that since this draft amendment is aimed at improving patients’ access to medical cannabis, private parties, especially those that produce medicine, will be able to seek permission to grow marijuana.

4 August 2020

Green light to grow marijuana

The cabinet approved a proposal submitted by Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to amend the Narcotics Act to allow patients, medical practitioners and traditional healers to grow cannabis for medical and commercial purposes.

The Narcotics Act had been amended and mandated in 2019 to allow for the medical use of marijuana. However, Mr. Anutin pushed for wider use. The new amendment would allow patients with a medical certificate, medical practitioners, traditional healers or folk healers to grow cannabis for medical treatment, said deputy government spokeswoman Traisuree Taisaranakul. The amendment would also allow manufacturers of medical products to produce, import and export or possess the Category 5 narcotic cannabis.

The existing law allows only state agencies and those who sought permission working with state agencies, to produce, import or export cannabis. Medical practitioners and folk healers are not allowed to grow cannabis for medical treatment.

The draft amendment also allows marijuana seized in drug crackdowns to be used for producing medical cannabis if need be.

Mr. Anutin said that since this draft amendment is aimed at improving patients’ access to medical cannabis, private parties, especially those that produce medicine, will be able to seek permission to grow marijuana.