Ministry of Public Health issues guide to cannabis for tourists (what may and may not be done)

Created 2023-03-10

Updated 2023-07-11

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Ministry of Public Health issues guide to cannabis for tourists

Thailand is credited with being the first country in Asia to remove cannabis from the list of dangerous drugs. As a result, tourists have become interested in cannabis-containing products. Although the medical use of marijuana is legal, the Ministry of Public Health reiterates that it permits the use of cannabis only for its medical, health, and economic benefits, and does not support its use for recreational purposes. In addition, the Ministry of Public Health has issued several announcements to control marijuana use in the proper manner, such as considering the smell and smoke as a possible nuisance. Cannabis fragments are a controlled herb. To avoid misuse, cannabis fragments and food containing cannabis must be produced, processed, and distributed with permission. There must be a notice informing the consumer, as well as a warning.

The Ministry of Public Health’s Medical Cannabis Institute has created a cannabis communication guide to help tourists understand cannabis use in Thailand. Initially, an online version of "10 Things Tourists Need to Know About Cannabis in Thailand" was published in English on the Ministry of Public Health website (www.moph.go.th), and it is being prepared in other languages, such as Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Russian, and so on, to provide mainstream tourists with accurate information.

The Ministry of Public Health’s tourist guide contains ten practical bits of advice, as follows:

Carrying Seeds or Parts of the Cannabis Plant from and to Thailand for Personal Purposes Is Not Permitted;
Cannabis Cultivation Is Legal but Registering in the Food and Drug Administration's "Plook Ganja" Application or Through a Government Website Is Required;
Using Cannabis Flower Buds for Research, Export, Sale, or Processing for Commercial Purposes Requires an Official Permit;
Individuals under 20 Years Old, Pregnant Women, and Breastfeeding Women Are Not Eligible to Use Cannabis Except Under the Supervision of Health Professionals;
Possession of Extract Containing More than 0.2% THC and Synthetic THC Requires Permission;
Cannabis-Containing Dishes Are Available in Authorized Restaurants;
Approved Cannabis Health Products Are Accessible Through Specific Channels;
Smoking Cannabis in Public Spaces, Including Schools and Shopping Malls, Is Illegal;
Avoid Driving after Consuming Food or Health Products Containing Cannabis;
Those Who Have Serious Undesirable Health Outcomes from Consuming Cannabis Should Promptly See Doctors for Treatment.