“New drug laws don’t legalise unlicensed marijuana cultivation”

Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has rushed to clarify that the new narcotics law does not legalise the unrestricted planting of marijuana in an apparent response to the Bhumjai Thai political party’s manifesto pledge to legalise marijuana cultivation.

The party trotted out the election platform last week during their campaigning.

FDA secretary-general Dr. Tharet Kratnairaveewong has clarified that the new law, now in force, only allows for limited cultivation of marijuana with the cooperation a state agency with prior permission from the Narcotics Control Committee.

The FDA is expected to issue three ministerial announcements next week exempting doctors, researchers, community enterprises, patients and others who have registered with the FDA or with health offices, from legal action for possession and cultivation of the plant.

Dr. Tharet said that patients will be able use marijuana leaves and flowers as part of their doctor recommended treatment, not just marijuana extracts or oil.

Traditional medicine practitioners who want to use marijuana or its extracts to treat their patients must first pass a Medical Science Department training course.