Is Thailand giving away weed? For real? In June 2022, the Thai government launched a campaign to distribute free marijuana to its citizens in an effort to boost the health of the citizens and the country’s economy.
However, the government has recommended citizens not to use weed for recreational purposes. The Thai government sees cannabis legalization as an opportunity for economic growth. They believe in cannabis as a versatile and profitable cash crop, one that should be exported all over the world.
Thailand Starts Million-Plant Cannabis Giveaway
A day after the Thai government legalized medical marijuana, it announced a plan to give away one million free weed plants to Thai citizens. The government believes that cannabis can be used to treat a wide variety of medical conditions, including pain, anxiety, and depression. It also believes that marijuana can help boost the country’s economy.
More than 350,000 homes had signed up to use an app that would allow them to grow six cannabis plants. In addition to this, many more people grow cannabis in their homes or on their property with or without a permit from the government.
Why Is Thailand Handing out Free Cannabis Plants?
The Thai government has provided two major reasons for its decision to hand out free cannabis plants.
The first reason is to promote the use of cannabis for medical purposes. The government believes that cannabis can be used to treat muscle pain, anxiety, and depression.
The second reason is to boost the country’s economy. The Thai government sees cannabis legalization as an opportunity for economic growth. They believe that cannabis can be profitable and will help the Thai economy recover from the impact of the covid-19 mismanagement.
Legalized Marijuana
On June 9, 2022, Thailand became the first country in Asia to legalize weed. It took the decision to legalize cannabis in an effort to boost the country’s economy.
Weed cultivation is seen as a way to generate income and create jobs. It has also put a restriction on weed import to help local farmers.
Moreover, the Thai government has also said that it wants to use cannabis to treat a wide variety of medical conditions. For ages now, weed has been used by farmers in Thailand to ease muscle pain after a long day of work. But it’s also been traditionally used in some foods and even massage oil.
Now, with the government’s permission, people can grow up to six cannabis plants in their homes for personal use. The government has also set up a website where people can register to grow cannabis.
How Has Thailand Decriminalized Cannabis?
Earlier this year, the Thai government decriminalized cannabis. This means that people can use cannabis for medical purposes. Recreational use is legal but the government is advising people to abstain from cannabis for recreational purposes.
The Thai government has also set up an app and a website where people can register to grow cannabis. People can also obtain a permit if they want to grow cannabis for medical purposes.
The Rules and Regulations Around Weed in Thailand
Individuals above the age of 20 are legally allowed to possess weed in Thailand. It is also legal to grow up to six cannabis plants per household. The use of cannabis for medical purposes is legal but recreational use remains discouraged.
Extracts containing over 0.2 percent of THC are still illegal in the country. Edibles can contain no more than 1.6mg of THC per unit using only the leaves of the plant, which is why edibles producers like Baked are producing individually wrapped cookies infused with the maximum allowed limit of THC per cookie.
Moreover, the importation of cannabis is banned as it wants to provide local farmers with an opportunity to cultivate and sell cannabis. Equally important to note is that it is illegal to smoke in public places. The sentence for this is three months in jail and a 25,000 Baht fine however this is poorly enforced.
Conclusion
The Thai government’s decision to decriminalize and then legalize cannabis shows that the government is willing to promote the use of weed for both medical and economic purposes.
Cannabis legalization is an opportunity for economic growth. The Thai government believes that cannabis can be profitable and should be exported worldwide. With the right regulations in place, the cannabis industry has the potential to grow significantly in Thailand.