High stakes: Thailand rolls out stricter cannabis controls

Thailand’s Public Health Ministry is set to tighten control over the production, import, export, sale, and possession of cannabis and hemp extracts through a new ministerial regulation.

Police Lieutenant General Phanurat Lukboon, Secretary-General of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), announced that the Cabinet has approved the draft regulation in principle. The draft, proposed by the Public Health Ministry, will now be reviewed by the Council of State, the government’s legal advisory body, before it is enacted under the Narcotics Code.

This regulation will establish the criteria for applying for, granting, and renewing licences, as well as the associated fees, for the medical, commercial, industrial, and scientific use of cannabis and hemp extracts. It will also cover the use of these substances in anti-drug operations.

Once implemented, individuals without the proper licences engaging in these activities could face up to five years in prison and/or a fine of up to 500,000 baht (US$14,900). Harsher penalties await those using the extracts for commercial purposes without a licence, leading to widespread use or selling them to minors under 18 years of age. Such offences could result in up to 15 years in prison and/or a fine of up to 1.5 million baht (US$44,800).

Pol. Lt. Gen. Phanurat highlighted the severity of these potential infractions.

“If they use the extracts for commercial purposes without a licence, which leads to their widespread use, or sell them to young people under the age of 18, they will face a harsher punishment.”

Earlier this week, Pol. Lt. Gen. Phanurat met with British Ambassador Mark Gooding to discuss measures to combat the smuggling of cannabis from Thailand to the UK. The meeting also included representatives from the Royal Thai Police, the Customs Department, and Airports of Thailand (AoT), reported Bangkok Post.

The British envoy noted that over 200 smugglers from Thailand have been arrested in the UK this year, expressing concern over transnational criminal networks orchestrating these activities. Pol. Lt. Gen. Phanurat shared the ambassador’s concerns.

“The ambassador expressed concern about transnational criminal networks pulling the strings.”

In response, Justice Minister Police Colonel Tawee Sodsong has directed the ONCB to collaborate with the UK’s National Crime Agency. This partnership aims to facilitate information sharing and implement a joint programme to train AoT personnel in drug analysis.