Thailand drafts law to limit use of recreational marijuana

A new draft law to ban the use of cannabis for recreational purposes in Thailand is expected to be ready next week, said the country's Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew.

He told the Bangkok Post that so far, the draft bill is not complete and thus it has not been sent to the cabinet for approval.

He said this after pro-marijuana groups criticised his decision to support the draft without carrying out a public discussion as promised.

Cholnan maintained that cannabis should be used for medical purposes only, in line with the prime minister's policy expressed in the country's parliament.

He said cannabis containing more than 0.2 percent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active chemical in cannabis, would be classified as a drug.

He added that shops that already sell marijuana are allowed to operate because they have permission as business premises, while the planned bill will focus on controlling the abuse of cannabis.

Business owners upset

Meanwhile, a business association in Khao San Road, Bangkok said many tourists visit there because Thailand is the only country in Asia that does not ban marijuana.

Marijuana shops on Khao San Road can generate profits of 20 to 30 million baht (approximately RM2.5 million to RM4 million), said Khao San Road Business Association president Sa-nga Ruangwattanakul.

"Khao San Road is considered one of the famous tourist destinations in Thailand," he said.

He also said that if cannabis is restricted to medical use, it will have a big impact on shops that sell cannabis in tourist areas.

Sa-nga also suggested that the Thai government should declare the area as a designated cannabis-use zone.

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