Thailand Legalizes Cannabis for Food Products and Opium for Medicine

Thailand is continuing its reform efforts and will soon legalize the use of cannabis in food products and cosmetics, as well as legalize cocaine, morphine, and opium for medical purposes.

The Thai Ministry of Public Health announced that the government plans to allow most parts of the cannabis plant to be used in food and cosmetic products. The Narcotics Control Committee has decided to remove cannabis leaves, branches, stems, trunks, bark, fibers, and roots from the government’s list of controlled substances. Only the buds and flowers, which contain high levels of psychoactive substances, remain restricted.

To implement these changes, the Food and Drug Administration will develop new public health regulations. Once approved by the Minister of Public Health, the new regulations will take effect.

Paisal Dunkhum, Secretary-General of the Food and Drug Administration, stated that the liberalization of anti-narcotics laws in Thailand aims to permit the use of cannabis for personal purposes, as well as for the production of textiles, clothing, medicines, and herbal products.

Legalization of Other Substances for Medical Use

In addition to cannabis, Thailand plans to legalize cocaine, morphine, and opium. The government intends to decriminalize several “hard” drugs for medical and research purposes.

The Ministry of Public Health’s decree lists 102 substances, including “hard” drugs such as morphine, opium, cocaine, fentanyl, and codeine. Under the law, these substances are classified as second-degree narcotics.

According to the decree, starting in July 2021, these substances may be sold and used under limited and strictly regulated circumstances. Government agencies, licensed pharmacies, and medical professionals such as doctors, pharmacists, dentists, and veterinarians will be able to obtain licenses to use these drugs.

The use of decriminalized narcotics is strictly limited to medical or research purposes only.