BANGKOK — Thailand has began banning the sale of hashish to these with out a prescription, three years after turning into the primary nation in Asia to decriminalize the plant.
The brand new order, signed by Well being Minister Somsak Thepsutin earlier this week, got here into impact Thursday after it was revealed within the Royal Gazette. It bans retailers from promoting hashish to prospects with out a prescription and reclassifies hashish buds as a managed herb.
The order cited a punishment from the 1999 Act of Safety and Promotion of Conventional Thai Drugs Knowledge, by which a violation would lead to a most one-year jail time period and a 20,000-baht ($614) effective.
The Division of Thai Conventional and Different Drugs, in control of imposing rules associated to hashish, held a gathering Friday with officers throughout the nation to organize them for the change.
The transfer to decriminalize in 2022 had boosted Thailand’s tourism and farming industries, and spawned thousands of shops.
However the nation has confronted public backlash over allegations {that a} lack of regulation made the drug out there to youngsters and precipitated habit.
Treechada Srithada, spokesperson for the Well being Ministry, stated in a press release Thursday that hashish use in Thailand would turn out to be “absolutely for medical functions.”
She stated retailers that violate the order will likely be closed and the ministry will even tighten necessities for approval of a brand new license sooner or later. She stated there are curently 18,000 retailers that maintain a license to promote hashish.
The ruling Pheu Thai Social gathering beforehand promised to criminalize the drug once more, however confronted robust resistance from its former accomplice within the coalition authorities, the Bhumjaithai Social gathering, which supported decriminalization.
Bhumjaithai stop the coalition final week over a leaked phone call between Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and former Cambodian chief Hun Sen.
The transfer to limit hashish gross sales got here after officers final month revealed that cannabis smuggling cases involving tourists had soared in latest months. Somsak instructed reporters Tuesday he want to relist hashish as a narcotic sooner or later.
Thailand’s Workplace of the Narcotics Management Board stated a research carried out by the company final 12 months discovered the variety of folks hooked on hashish had spiked considerably after it was decriminalized.
A gaggle of hashish advocates stated Wednesday that the change in rules was politically motivated and that they’ll rally on the Well being Ministry subsequent month to oppose the change and any try to make it a felony offense once more to devour or promote hashish.