The first steps towards Cannabis legalisation in the Kingdom of Thailand were taken at the beginning of this year. Thailand has traditionally been a major producer and exporter of high grade Cannabis known as “Thai Sticks” because the flowers used to be tied to a thin stick of bamboo.
Thai Cannabis became famous the world over during the 1960’s and 1970’s when American solders were introduced to it during R&R from the war in Vietnam. By the 1980s Thailand had become one of the world’s major exporters of Cannabis.
A Brief History Of Cannabis In Thailand
Thailand has a long and historic relationship with Cannabis. It was used traditionally for millennia as a source of recreation, medicine, food and fibre. Thailand is also considered by many to be the birthplace of the bong known locally as baungs. Traditionally made from bamboo these water pipes were brought back to America with solders returning from the Vietnam war.
The Bangkok Post reported that early this year Thailand’s cabinet legalised the growing of hemp for medical purposes. A proposal was approved to allow the production of Cannabis in 15 of Thailand's districts. This proposal is to be implemented during 2017. The legislation approves the growing of hemp that contains less than 1% of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), one of the psychoactive ingredient in Cannabis.
I have been personally been informed by several well connected Thais that recreational use of Cannabis is likely to follow!
Legality Of Cannabis In Thailand
However Cannabis currently remains illegal in Thailand and its use is punishable by up to 1 year in prison. A growing number of countries around the world are changing their outlook on Cannabis to take in to account its health benefits and the hight costs of imprisoning users. This is a global trend and the state of New South Wales in Australia legalised the medical prescription of Cannabis on the 1st of August 2016.
Relaxing The Laws
Thailand’s Government is discussing relaxing drugs laws on several substances including Cannabis, Methamphetamine and Kratom. A recent online poll by Thai Visa found that 80.5 percent of 379 participants were in favour of legalising both recreational and medical Cannabis use.
Clearly the legalisation of Cannabis would be of benefit to Thailand in several ways. Thailand has a well developed tourism industry and making Cannabis legal would only boost visitors to the Kingdom. Thailand also has a strong medical tourism industry and the legalisation of Cannabis would assist this sector of the economy. The potential for foreigners who require medical treatment with Cannabis to subsidise the treatment of locals is also significant.
Photo from prachatai.com
Barriers To Legalisation
However there remains some hurdles to overcome. Thailand's justice minister who was instigating the push for legislation has now been promoted to the King's Privy Council.
The issue of corruption is another barrier to the legalisation of Cannabis in Thailand. With low police salaries the income generated by bribes from those arrested with Cannabis and other narcotics are no small mater. Full legalisation of Cannabis will have to overcome the vested interests of drug lords and enforcement agencies who profit from continued prohibition.
If Thailand legalises Cannabis this could have a marked impact on Cannabis laws across South East Asia who's countries have some of the harshest penalties for recreational Cannabis use in the world.
I will continue to report on this as the situation unfolds!
All uncredited images courtesy of Pixabay