Thailand’s government plans to provide one million cannabis plants to its citizens for home cultivation once legal restrictions on cannabis possession and production are lifted next month, according to the Associated Press.
Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul signed a measure in February that removed cannabis from a list of controlled drugs, and officials are optimistic that a regulated cannabis industry will generate hundreds of millions of dollars each year and attract foreign tourists, AP reported.
Thailand’s parliament voted to approve cannabis for medical use in 2018, and restrictions on cannabis have been gradually loosened since then, according to AP.
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The decriminalization measure takes effect June 9, the news outlet reported, legalizing cannabis possession and the use of all parts of the plant, including flower and seeds.
Extracted cannabis content containing more than 0.2% THC will remain illegal under the new law, according to AP.
Anutin announced May 8 that Thais will no longer require a permit to cultivate cannabis at home, as long as they declare it is for medical purposes and it does not exceed the maximum THC limit, the news outlet reported.
Thais will be able to grow an unlimited number of plants at their homes when the plants are distributed next month, according to AP.
Large-scale cannabis businesses need permission from Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration to cultivate cannabis and produce products, which the government still views as medicine and food additives, the news outlet reported.
The Food and Drug Administration had received roughly 4,700 applications as of last month from businesses seeking to import, process, grow and process cannabis, according to AP.