Bill to Legalize Kratom and Medical Marijuana Advances in Thailand’s Parliament

According to recent reports, a bill supporting the legalization of kratom and medical marijuana is making significant progress in Thailand’s national parliament. Given the broad support among lawmakers, it is expected that both plants could be legalized as early as the beginning of the new year. This would make Thailand the second country in Asia to allow the use of medical marijuana.

Amendments to the Psychoactive Substances Regulation Act

The proposed bill, which is essentially a set of amendments to the “Regulation of Psychoactive and Narcotic Substances Act,” includes provisions for the legalization and regulation of medical marijuana and kratom, a plant known for its mild psycho-stimulant effects. Currently, the bill is backed by a group of 44 lawmakers who believe both plants can serve as natural and affordable alternatives to certain pharmaceutical drugs for the Thai population.

Local journalists report that the bill will establish separate, regulated market systems for the distribution of kratom and medical marijuana within the country. Certification and regulation of commercial production will be handled by a new bureau under the national narcotics control agency. Additionally, the Minister of Health will have the authority to make immediate amendments to the regulatory system for both plants.

Besides the Ministry of Health, other medical organizations—including local clinics, hospitals, and international organizations like the Red Cross—will be authorized to store and distribute medical marijuana. Citizens and visitors will only be able to access marijuana and kratom with a special permit from their treating physician. However, individuals with prior convictions related to the distribution of these previously banned plants will not be allowed legal access to the new market.

At this stage, the bill has only passed its first reading in parliament. However, political analysts believe that, due to its strong support, it is highly likely to be fully adopted within the first few months of the new year. The bill is currently under review by the parliamentary legal committee, which consists of 29 members. It is expected that after 60 days of review, the bill will proceed to the next reading without major obstacles.

Support from Politicians and the Public

Thanks to widespread support for the legalization of medical marijuana and kratom among Thai politicians, the bill quickly passed its first reading. It was adopted unanimously, with no opposition from either the ruling party or the opposition. In addition to strong parliamentary backing, the bill is also popular among the Thai public. According to a recent public opinion poll, about 99.03% of respondents supported the bill’s adoption.

Preparing for Legal Marijuana Production

With authorities expecting the amendments to be adopted soon, Thailand needs to focus on preparing the infrastructure for the immediate start of legal marijuana production. According to the national police, marijuana currently found on the country’s black market is of extremely low quality and often contains many substances hazardous to human health. Tests on confiscated black-market marijuana show that, while it typically does not contain pesticides or pest poisons, it often has high concentrations of various heavy metals.

The contamination of marijuana is mainly due to serious environmental issues in the country, particularly water pollution. Therefore, to provide the population with products suitable for medical use, cultivation will need to be organized in special indoor plantations rather than on local farms.