JAKARTA - The Thai government approved the latest amendments to narcotics regulations on Tuesday, August 4. In the amendment, there are points that provide opportunities for private companies in terms of cultivating cannabis plants, both for the production of drugs and for other medical purposes.
Not only that. In the Amendment there are also other details that provide concessions to patients treated with medical marijuana, which when the amendments are passed, they will be allowed to produce, export, or sell cannabis leaves for medical purposes.
"The law will promote the pharmaceutical industry and increase competitiveness, which will be important for Thailand to become a leader in medical cannabis," Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul was quoted as saying by Reuters, Wednesday, August 5.
However, Thailand has removed marijuana from the narcotics list. This was done as the owner of the policy legalized the use of the five finger plant in 2017 for both medical and research use.
The problem is, only the government is allowed to grow the cannabis plant. Illegal possession of marijuana carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to 1.5 million baht or the equivalent of Rp.698 million.
Therefore, the presence of a new amendment - which is still awaiting legal review before being reviewed in the Thai parliament - is a new hope for the use of cannabis in Southeast Asia. Moreover, Thailand is currently the first country and a pioneer in Southeast Asia to legalize marijuana for medical needs.
It seems that Thailand's courage in legalizing marijuana is in stark contrast to other Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. Because, both countries, possession of marijuana is still illegal. Because marijuana is so taboo, marijuana traders in the country can be punished by death.
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