Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Thai minister: No limit on household cannabis plants

Thai minister: No limit on household cannabis plants

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
The public would have to wait until June 9 because that is when the Public Health Ministry’s directive decriminalising marijuana goes into effect. AFP

Thai minister: No limit on household cannabis plants

Thais will be able to grow any amount of marijuana for personal use from June 9 onwards, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Saturday.

Anutin, who is also deputy prime minister and Bhumjaithai Party leader, was speaking at the opening ceremony of a forum on the medical use of marijuana in Public Health Area 10. The meeting was held at Rajabhat Si Sa Ket University on Saturday.

Anutin said his party’s campaign promise was to get households to be allowed to grow six marijuana plants for personal use, but he could do better by lifting this limit.

However, he said, the public would have to wait until June 9 because that is when the Public Health Ministry’s directive decriminalising marijuana goes into effect. The order will have completed the requisite 120 days after being published in the Royal Gazette by then.

The minister added that people will not have to seek permission for growing marijuana, but will have to inform the authorities about the number of plants they possess. He said the registration of the number of plants is required by an international treaty Thailand has ratified.

He added that the Public Health Ministry will soon submit a bill to the House of Representatives to govern the use of marijuana after it is officially decriminalised. The minister did not provide a timeframe for the new bill.

Anutin said marijuana and hemp are really useful products, which is why his party and ministry are pushing for Thais to grow them like household crops.

He added that Bhumjaithai has received full support from all agencies under the Public Health Ministry to push for the medical use of marijuana and some 100,000 patients have been treated so far. He added that the next goal is to push for the plants to become cash crops for communities.

THE NATION (THAILAND)/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

MOST VIEWED

  • Joy as Koh Ker Temple registered by UNESCO

    Cambodia's Koh Ker Temple archaeological site has been officially added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List, during the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on September 17. The ancient temple, also known as Lingapura or Chok Gargyar, is located in

  • Ream base allegations must end, urges official

    A senior government official urges an end to the allegations and suspicions surrounding the development of Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base, now that Prime Minister Hun Manet has addressed the issue on the floor of the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78). Jean-Francois Tain, a geopolitical

  • Cambodia set to celebrate Koh Ker UNESCO listing

    To celebrate the inscription of the Koh Ker archaeological site on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, the Ministry of Cults and Religion has appealed to pagodas and places of worship to celebrate the achievement by ringing bells, shaking rattles and banging gongs on September 20. Venerable

  • CP denied registration documents by ministry

    The Ministry of Interior will not reissue registration documents to the Candlelight Party (CP). Following a September 21 meeting between ministry secretary of state Bun Honn and CP representatives, the ministry cited the fact that there is no relevant law which would authorise it to do

  • Cambodian diaspora laud Manet’s UN Assembly visit

    Members of the Cambodian diaspora are rallying in support of Prime Minister Hun Manet’s forthcoming visit to the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78) in the US’ New York City this week. Their move is an apparent response to a recent call by self-exiled former

  • After three deferrals, Capital Gains Tax to take effect Jan 1, 2024

    The General Department of Taxation (GDT) will implement the Capital Gains Tax starting January 1, 2024 to after being deferred three times as industrial players warn that the implementation might have some negative impact on the property market growth, which is down due to the economic downturn.