Cannabis Thailand 2022

Are you planning a trip to Thailand to take advantage of the country’s liberalizing cannabis laws? In that case, you might want to think again. Cannabis in Thailand in 2022 can be challenging to navigate.

What is the state of cannabis in Thailand in August 2022? Things are changing rapidly, so this post will look at the most recent changes and provide a general overview.

No Pot Tourism 

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is adamant that cannabis legalization in Thailand is about medicine and economic benefits. But those economic benefits don’t extend to tourism.

“We don’t welcome those kinds of tourists,” Charnvirakul told Thai media at a “Meet the Press: Cannabis” event. 

But Cannabis in Thailand in 2022 has seen locals and tourists smoking in public and private lounges. Thailand’s Instagram users are advertising cannabis.

Despite official condemnation from the government, the nation doesn’t seem to be listening.

And indeed, there have been mixed messages. In May 2022, the Thai government gave away 1 million free cannabis plants for home cultivation.

Individuals no longer need a permit to grow cannabis at home so long as it’s for medicinal purposes and the THC limit does not exceed the legal limit.

Smoking in public can still yield a fine of $705 (USD) and up to three months in prison. This law extends to tourists as well as locals.

Is Cannabis Legal in Thailand in 2022?

In February 2022, Charnvirakul signed a measure officially removing cannabis from a list of controlled drugs and substances.

The Thai government initially legalized cannabis in 2018 but strictly controlled its cultivation and use. Cannabis in Thailand in 2022 has seen those restrictions severely reduced. 

As for further legalization measures, Charnvirakul said: “It might come in the near future.”

“This could be done if people agree that cannabis use is not harmful. We are ready to achieve that point if people have a better understanding of how to use it correctly.”

Cannabis Thailand August 2022 Updates

What is the state of cannabis in Thailand in August 2022? The Thai government might pass a new bill to clarify the laws and remove legal grey areas.

People will no longer be able to grow hundreds of plants. As per Section 18 of the bill, Thai residents are now capped at 15 cannabis plants per household.

Regarding hemp plants, however, the limit is five rai per household. (Rai is a unit of area equal to 1,600 square metres).

Section 28 prohibits online selling, advertising, and promoting cannabis and cannabis-based products. Cannabis product vending machines are also prohibited. Violators could be liable for a year in jail.

The bill also bans “exaggeration” or false advertising regarding cannabis.

Section 15 specifies what businesses must do to grow, process, and extract cannabis for commercial use.

Failure to adhere to the commercial regulations could result in jail time from 1 to 3 years and hundreds of thousands of baht in fines.

You must be at least twenty years old to grow cannabis commercially and be a Thai national. Thai citizens must own and operate commercial enterprises.

Section 37 of the bill bans cannabis and hemp-infused foods to anyone under twenty and for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

The bill also bans cannabis from temples, other religious premises, schools, and public parks.

But the bill gives hospitals and other medical facilities a lot of leeways. They can cultivate cannabis and provide patients with it without government permission.

Additional Cannabis Laws for Thailand in 2022? 

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnviraku said he doesn’t believe additional regulations are needed. Negative stories regarding Thailand’s cannabis experiment have been, according to Charnvikakul, exaggerated for political reasons.

“All regulations we have already implemented are enough for control measures, even without the cannabis law,” he told the media.

Cannabis in Thailand in 2022 has been a success, says Charnviraku.

“Over 1.1 million people have requested to plant cannabis on some 7,500 rai of land. The revenue from cannabis products this year is expected to reach 28 billion baht and it is expected to climb to 50 billion baht annually in the coming years,” he said.

Legal Magic Mushrooms Too?

Last Monday, the Thai Narcotics Control Board announced they are looking into the benefits of psilocybin or “magic” mushrooms. So far, no decisions have been made.