The experiment failed: in Thailand cannabis will be put back on the list of prohibited substances (4 photos)

The changes will come into effect on January 1, 2025.





In 2022, Thailand decriminalized cannabis, but two years later the country realized that it had made a mistake. On July 5, at a meeting of the committee tasked with monitoring drug trafficking, a majority voted to reclassify cannabis as a narcotic substance, The Bangkok Post reports.



Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health of Thailand, Dr. Surachoke Tangwiwat, said cannabis should only be taken for medical purposes, according to prescriptions, and not for recreational use. So cannabis, like hemp, will be considered a narcotic plant, with the exception of its branches, roots and seeds. Cannabis buds and any derivatives containing more than 0.2% tetrahydrocannabinol will also be classified as drugs.

In 2022, Thailand became the first country in Asia to decriminalize cannabis, and since then thousands of shops, pharmacies and stalls selling the raw material have opened. Marijuana was also grown for personal use, but many traded the surplus.



Since then, Thailand has become a mecca for all lovers of a light high, due to which the number of drug-related crimes has increased.

The Thai Ministry of Public Health reported a sharp increase in the number of people seeking treatment for cannabis-related psychological problems, from more than 37,000 patients in 2022 to more than 63,000 patients in 2023. Other studies have shown that more and more young people are using the drug, and the lack of proper control over its distribution has made cannabis accessible even to children and adolescents.



Naturally, the worsening situation in society associated with the decriminalization of cannabis alarmed the country's authorities, who decided to take restrictive measures.



After the decision to reclassify cannabis in Thailand, rallies are planned to be held in protest. Many believe that the changes will jeopardize the business of Thais who grew grass for sale. Activists hope that the government will come to its senses and return everything to normal.