“Cannabis” is recognized by many health professionals and the locals in Thailand as a medicinal plant with a high potential for therapeutic use and has a long history in the Thai traditional medicine practice. However, the enactment of the Narcotics Act in 1979 “Cannabis” is recognized by many health professionals and the locals in Thailand as a medicinal plant with a high potential for therapeutic use and has a long history in the Thai traditional medicine practice. However, the enactment of the Narcotics Act in 1979 classified cannabis as a type of narcotic plant, and hence, its usage was prohibited by law.
In 2019, the Thai government began to unlock certain regulations allowing cannabis to be used for health and medical purposes under restrictions. Thailand is the first amongst its neighboring countries in Southeast Asia where the government promotes and legalizes the medical usage of cannabis. The main objectives are for people to safely utilize medical-related cannabis inventions and to reduce illegal cultivation and commercialization of the plant. It is expected to also help boost the Thai economy. Though, this idea stirred a debate within Thailand’s somewhat conservative society.
While the amended Narcotics Act in 2019 legalized the usage of cannabis and hemp in the medical space and for research and development purposes to a certain extent, both types of plants were listed under category 5 of narcotic substances, meaning, many limitations are still in place. The removal of particular parts of cannabis from the controlled narcotic
On December 13, 2020, a Government Gazette was published stating that specific parts of cannabis and extracts were delisted from category 5 of the Narcotics Act.
These include:Fiber, stalk, stem, root, bark Leaf (without flowers and inflorescence) Extracts with cannabidiol (CBD) as an ingredient with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) not exceeding 0.2% of the weight Residue or waste from cannabis extract with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) not exceeding 0.2% of the weight
Parts and extracts of hemp as well as other derivatives were also released from the controlled list.
Despite this progress and effort by the Health Ministry, the usage of cannabis was not prevalent due to complex legal barriers and the fact that not all parts of the plant can be used or commercialized legally. Licenses to produce, import, export, dispose or possess cannabis
The Government Gazette’s publication on November 26, 2021, declared the regulation on requesting for the license to produce, import, export, dispose or possess narcotic substance category 5, particularly “cannabis”.
Those eligible to request for the grant of license according to the ministerial regulation are as follow:In case an applicant is an individual, the applicant must:Hold a Thai citizenship Not be less than 20 years of age Have a resident in Thailand Not be a person of unsound mind, incompetent or quasi-incompetent Not be bankrupt Not be a person whose license issued under the narcotic law, or the psychotropic substances law is being suspended or revoked Not be sentenced by final judgment as being guilty of an offense under narcotic law, psychotropic substances law, prevention of volatile substance abuse law, or the law on measures for the suppression of offenders in an offense related to narcotics In case an applicant is a juristic person, the applicant must:Be registered under Thai law Possess the qualifications under 1) f. and g. Have a representative or a person with authority to act on behalf of the juristic person with qualifications under 1) Directors, shareholders, or at least two-thirds of the shareholders must be persons of Thai nationality Have an office in ThailandIn case an applicant is a community enterprise that is not a juristic person, the representative authorized to undertake the activities must possess qualifications under 1. In case an applicant is a state agency, the agency’s objectives must be related to the production, import, export, disposition, or possession of cannabis according to its missions stated in this ministerial regulation.
This implies that foreigners are not yet allowed to produce, import, export, dispose or possess cannabis in Thailand. In line with the amended Narcotics Act published in 2019, only Thai citizens or juristic persons under Thai law will be able to participate in these activities for the first 5 years after the enforcement of the Act in February 2019. The complete legalization of cannabis in 2022
On December 11, 2021, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced in the launching event of cannabis model city in Nakorn Phanom province that ‘all parts’ of the cannabis are no longer listed under narcotic substance based on the new Narcotics Code, effective December 9, 2021.
Anutin addressed the Health Ministry’s policy to promote the use of medicinal herbs consisting of cannabis, hemp, and Kratom by appointing the Department of Thai Traditional and Complementary Medicine to invent new policies to increase cannabis product value and create more jobs for people growing the herb and more income for manufacturers. This will allow Thai people better access to the products with more options to receive medical treatment. The push for this policy paved the way for hospitals and clinics all over the country to offer complimentary treatments using cannabis. In the meantime, the Health Ministry is researching and innovating new health-related products by making use of these medicinal herbs that will help improve the health of Thai people.
The Health Ministry has been urging related parties to legally facilitate the usage and commercialization of cannabis and hemp by removing the herbs from category 5 of controlled narcotics. This implies that all parts of cannabis including root, stem, stalk, leaf, flower bud, inflorescence, and seeds will no longer be listed as narcotic substances. Only cannabis extract with THC over 0.2% will remain on the list. In addition, the process to request a license to grow the plant will be simplified which will benefit farmers or community enterprises who are interested in this business to generate more income.
As for the next step, the Health Ministry will officially announce the new list of controlled narcotics and other related regulations. As a result, products made of cannabis oil or extracts, such as soap, cosmetics, and supplements with THC lower than 0.2% can be used at will.
The cannabis regulation in Thailand has come a long way, but it is still evolving with new measures to be declared and specifics to be clarified. For those interested in entering Thailand’s cannabis business scene, it is recommended to keep abreast with new developments and seek legal advice for professional guidance through the complexities of the regulation. classified cannabis as a type of narcotic plant, and hence, its usage was prohibited by law.
In 2019, the Thai government began to unlock certain regulations allowing cannabis to be used for health and medical purposes under restrictions. Thailand is the first amongst its neighboring countries in Southeast Asia where the government promotes and legalizes the medical usage of cannabis. The main objectives are for people to safely utilize medical-related cannabis inventions and to reduce illegal cultivation and commercialization of the plant. It is expected to also help boost the Thai economy. Though, this idea stirred a debate within Thailand’s somewhat conservative society.
While the amended Narcotics Act in 2019 legalized the usage of cannabis and hemp in the medical space and for research and development purposes to a certain extent, both types of plants were listed under category 5 of narcotic substances, meaning, many limitations are still in place. The removal of particular parts of cannabis from the controlled narcotic
On December 13, 2020, a Government Gazette was published stating that specific parts of cannabis and extracts were delisted from category 5 of the Narcotics Act.
These include:Fiber, stalk, stem, root, bark Leaf (without flowers and inflorescence) Extracts with cannabidiol (CBD) as an ingredient with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) not exceeding 0.2% of the weight Residue or waste from cannabis extract with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) not exceeding 0.2% of the weight
Parts and extracts of hemp as well as other derivatives were also released from the controlled list.
Despite this progress and effort by the Health Ministry, the usage of cannabis was not prevalent due to complex legal barriers and the fact that not all parts of the plant can be used or commercialized legally. Licenses to produce, import, export, dispose or possess cannabis
The Government Gazette’s publication on November 26, 2021, declared the regulation on requesting for the license to produce, import, export, dispose or possess narcotic substance category 5, particularly “cannabis”.
Those eligible to request for the grant of license according to the ministerial regulation are as follow:In case an applicant is an individual, the applicant must:Hold a Thai citizenship Not be less than 20 years of age Have a resident in Thailand Not be a person of unsound mind, incompetent or quasi-incompetent Not be bankrupt Not be a person whose license issued under the narcotic law, or the psychotropic substances law is being suspended or revoked Not be sentenced by final judgment as being guilty of an offense under narcotic law, psychotropic substances law, prevention of volatile substance abuse law, or the law on measures for the suppression of offenders in an offense related to narcotics In case an applicant is a juristic person, the applicant must:Be registered under Thai law Possess the qualifications under 1) f. and g. Have a representative or a person with authority to act on behalf of the juristic person with qualifications under 1) Directors, shareholders, or at least two-thirds of the shareholders must be persons of Thai nationality Have an office in ThailandIn case an applicant is a community enterprise that is not a juristic person, the representative authorized to undertake the activities must possess qualifications under 1. In case an applicant is a state agency, the agency’s objectives must be related to the production, import, export, disposition, or possession of cannabis according to its missions stated in this ministerial regulation.
This implies that foreigners are not yet allowed to produce, import, export, dispose or possess cannabis in Thailand. In line with the amended Narcotics Act published in 2019, only Thai citizens or juristic persons under Thai law will be able to participate in these activities for the first 5 years after the enforcement of the Act in February 2019. The complete legalization of cannabis in 2022
On December 11, 2021, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced in the launching event of cannabis model city in Nakorn Phanom province that ‘all parts’ of the cannabis are no longer listed under narcotic substance based on the new Narcotics Code, effective December 9, 2021.
Anutin addressed the Health Ministry’s policy to promote the use of medicinal herbs consisting of cannabis, hemp, and Kratom by appointing the Department of Thai Traditional and Complementary Medicine to invent new policies to increase cannabis product value and create more jobs for people growing the herb and more income for manufacturers. This will allow Thai people better access to the products with more options to receive medical treatment. The push for this policy paved the way for hospitals and clinics all over the country to offer complimentary treatments using cannabis. In the meantime, the Health Ministry is researching and innovating new health-related products by making use of these medicinal herbs that will help improve the health of Thai people.
The Health Ministry has been urging related parties to legally facilitate the usage and commercialization of cannabis and hemp by removing the herbs from category 5 of controlled narcotics. This implies that all parts of cannabis including root, stem, stalk, leaf, flower bud, inflorescence, and seeds will no longer be listed as narcotic substances. Only cannabis extract with THC over 0.2% will remain on the list. In addition, the process to request a license to grow the plant will be simplified which will benefit farmers or community enterprises who are interested in this business to generate more income.
As for the next step, the Health Ministry will officially announce the new list of controlled narcotics and other related regulations. As a result, products made of cannabis oil or extracts, such as soap, cosmetics, and supplements with THC lower than 0.2% can be used at will.
The cannabis regulation in Thailand has come a long way, but it is still evolving with new measures to be declared and specifics to be clarified. For those interested in entering Thailand’s cannabis business scene, it is recommended to keep abreast with new developments and seek legal advice for professional guidance through the complexities of the regulation.
The current revision to Thailand’s Narcotics Act (B.E. 2563) permits Thai corporations to produce cannabis (ganja) for therapeutic purposes, as well as conduct beneficial research and development in science and agriculture. While ganja possession, distribution, and use are still illegal in Thailand, the law removes certain elements of Cannabis sativa (including hemp) from the narcotic lists as of December 2020 and Thailand's narcotics board plans to remove them totally from the lists before the last quarter of 2022. The Thai Food and Drug Administration (Thai FDA) board maintains the exclusive licensing authority to assess applications and provide authorization due to the complexity of the registration process. In this view, we analyzed the guidelines for obtaining cannabis production license, and it was apparent that the announced law was in-line with regulations set-out by many countries in terms of security and prevention of misuse. The other criteria however fall merely onto the government gains, rather than public interests. To avoid the claimed state monopoly, several types of licensing should be issued in the future, depending on the genuine purpose of the farmers. The complete regulation process and conditions for obtaining a ganja growing license in Thailand are highlighted and discussed in this review.
Background
Apart from kratom (Mitragyna speciosa Korth) and a tablet methamphetamine or yaba, ganja or marijuana (Cannabis sativa L.) has remained the most commonly reported type of illicit drugs used in Thailand for the last 20 years (Angkurawaranon et al. 2018). In traditional alternative medicine, these plant-based medications are known for their functional properties, and Thailand is well known for having an ideal climate for production (Chouvy 2019; Tipparat et al. 2012). More importantly, since the late 1960s, Thailand has been noted for developing the unique technique for ganja growing that produces thick inflorescences dense to the stem known as “Thai sticks” (Chouvy 2019; Kravanja 2016). Nowadays, it is commonly agreed that the cannabis either hemp or ganja is from the same species of C. sativa L., and therefore, growing these plants had been prohibited in Thailand since 1979. Since 2007, however, attempts have been made to legalize hemp for textile purposes (Tipparat et al. 2014; Sommano et al. 2020). In 2018, Thai legislation formally legalized ganja as a class-5 narcotic drug and psychotropic substance for therapeutic purposes, although recreational use of the substance is still prohibited (Cannacata 2020; Kanato et al. 2020). The current permission intends to make ganja one of Thailand's future industrial crops, with benefits for research, agriculture, tourism, and the local market, as well as protecting Thai verities’ intellectual property (Cannacata 2020). As from December 2020, certain parts of ganja and hemp (subsp. sativa) as well as their extracts and by-products from extracting process with the content of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) no greater than 0.2% were removed from the narcotic list (Gazette and Health Mo 2020). The permission allows stem, root, leaves with no bud or florescence, hemp seed and hemp seed oil, under granted permission, to be used freely (Fig. 1). The plant parts and substances other than these are still considered drugs of psychotropic potential under the provisions of the Thai Narcotics Act (B.E. 2522) (1979). For distribution of cannabis-related drugs, the penalty is a maximum of 15 years in jail and a fine of up to 1.5 million THB, with lesser penalties for manufacturing, importation, or exportation depending on the quantity (Leechaianan and Longmire 2013; Aroonsrimorakot et al. 2019). Meanwhile, charges for cannabis-related drug usage carry a maximum sentence of 1 year in prison and a maximum fine of 20,000 THB. Nonetheless, after the legal revisions took effect in 2018, research revealed a massive increase in the number of ganja users in Thailand (Kanato et al. 2020). This number may rise in the future as the public at large becomes more aware of scientific evidence and the therapeutic effects of cannabis in the treatment of illnesses (Ratwichit and Jitkuakul 2019; Thaikla et al. 2018). The new rule allows licensed traditional medicine professionals and modern medical practitioners to dispense licensed medicinal grade cannabis products and Thai Traditional Medicine formulations (Zinboonyahgoon et al. 2020).
Fig. 1
Ganja on class-5 narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances of the Thai government gazette effective December, 2020. Superscript digit one indicates the following: under approved permission by Thai FDA. Superscript digit two indicates the following: the Thai government listed ganja, kratom, opium, and hallucinogenic mushrooms in class-5 of narcotics classification in the Narcotics Act
Although Thailand was the first country in Asia to amend its narcotics-control laws in an attempt to promote the use of cannabis for medical purposes, experts have opined that the amendment is very limited, allowing only licensed research and development with public institutes and consumption with a medical certificate, raising the question of whether it will or will not benefit the nations and, more importantly, Thai farmers. The purposes of current review are to access the status of legalization and to discuss the advancement and limitation(s) of existing regulation(s) for Thai cannabis growers. The presented information herein will be advantageous for farmers and entrepreneurs, alike, abiding by these new law and regulation.
Significant of ganja permit regulations for Thai public health
While the public is concerned about the change of Thailand's cannabis law, legalization is exclusively for medicinal purposes or as drug regulation in general In 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) expert committee on drug dependence had agreed on the appropriate level of international controls for cannabidiol (CBD), a phytocannabinoid devoid of psychoactive effects to be used for medical purposes CBD has recently been studied in preclinical and clinical trials and proven to have a potential pharmacotherapy for treating symptoms of a variety of neuropsychiatric illnesses, including addiction, anxiety, psychosis, motility problems, and epilepse. This active ingredient binds to key brain receptors involved in the metabolic and neuroinflammatory pathologies and a variety of brain functions including the type-1 cannabinoid receptor (CB1R) and the type-2 cannabinoid receptor (CB2R). Patients who want to use cannabis for medical purposes must first get a prescription from a practitioner, dentist, or a registered Thai-traditional medical professional. The diagnosis must be made based on evidence-based medicinal procedures derived from highly credible research studies, clinical specialists, and the expected outcome of patients.
1)The conditions with highly supportive research evidences including difficult-to treat epilepsy, side effects from chemotherapy (nausea and vomiting), spasticity in multiple sclerosis, and intractable neuropathic pain and HIV
2)The conditions that require further scientific evidences including Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, demyelinating disease, anxiety disorder, and patients in a palliative care and final stage of cancer
3)The conditions that may be privilege from ganja treatment but without adequate research evidences
4)In 1985, the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) approved two synthetic equivalents of THC. The position of Thailand regulation within the broader cannabis regulation environment across the world
Marijuana producers in Canada must apply for licenses through the health ministry and must pass security checks and quality-control inspections, as per the “Medical Marijuana Access Regulations” (MMAR) of 2001 (Eggertson 2013; Fischer et al. 2015). It was estimated that more than 2% of Canadian citizens relied on medical marijuana treatments and nearly hundreds of individuals had applied to become licensed growers impacting a ten billion dollars business revenue (Hollenbeck and Uetake 2020; Fischer et al. 2015). In 2018, Canadian government has passed the legalization of recreational marijuana for adults under certain regulatory in place (Cox 2018). It is generally accepted that legalizing cannabis for patients has often implemented an ever strict regime, for example, the authorities and medical professionals still request evidence-based recognition of cannabis as an approved treatment (Hakkarainen et al. 2015).
Overall, the ultimate goals of ganja legalization in Thailand are primarily to provide access to this substance to patients who rely on it for therapy, as well as to support research and development. The legalization also allows different classes of federal licensees including cultivation (both of hemp and ganja), processing, and others such as research and analytical services. The government pays less attention to the risks connected with illicit markets, juvenile access restrictions, the construction of an appropriate safety and regulatory environment, and the criminal justice system, that are all necessary. Furthermore, rather than promoting fraudulent political policy, information and ground understanding about the ganja’s use of conduct should be provided to the public. We therefore conclude that unless the legalization of ganja in Thailand is for recreational use, the current regulation is comparable with a 1961 single convention on narcotic drugs.
Permission and growing ganja in Thailand
For growers, industrial hemp and licensed cultivation of ganja, for the purposes of research and scientific investigation, is legal in many places. Furthermore, growing these plants for personal use is also allowed in some countries (Ratwichit and Jitkuakul 2019; Hakkarainen et al. 2015; Potter et al. 2015; Lenton et al. 2015). As of June 2020, Thailand’s cultivation permission was only valid for C. sativa L. used for research and domestic medical purposes, and parameters like cultivation area, growing quantity, security, detailed information, and the applicant’s criminal record had to be provided along with a duly filled application form (ONCB 2020; Puttasrijaru 2019). Only a few types of applicants are allowed, according to the protocol, including (i) the government and (ii) public universities whose mission is to conduct research, education in agriculture, medical services, or narcotics control, and (iii) Thai farmers associated with a registered community enterprise, private university, and professional individual with a valid agreement with the mentioned register public sectors (MOPH 2020). To prolong a permission, applicants must report that they have no prior criminal records involving narcotic drugs (class-5) and that their previous work progress demonstrates that they have had a consistent track record. Any change in cultivation quantity must be reported to the Thai FDA, which is part of the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), in order to revise the agreement. Nonetheless, if the cultivation location changes, the government will consider updating the application. According to this new regulation, 2793 permissions have been granted with as many as 343 cultivation permits (as of December 2021). A number of the farmer community enterprises are involved in these permits, the majority of which have an agreement with the MOPH as a public sector counterpart (Narcotics Control Division Food And Drug Administration (FDA) 2020). After the law came into effect, it was anticipated that over 200,000 individuals were prescribed medical cannabis, with 90% of those being first-time users (Kanato et al. 2020). This has the potential to secure the medicinal cannabis industry’s status while also providing growers with a window of opportunity. However, the addiction stigma that reflects the negative perception of ganja use in Thai culture, adverse side effect, and complex system of safeguard are the challenges for cannabis industry and the success of implementation of this new law (Zinboonyahgoon et al. 2020; Ritmontree et al. 2019). The government’s license monopoly model is also seen as a barrier to private investment (Kirdphol and Junngam 2020).
Legal propagation
Sharing the same scientific name as marijuana, hemp is known for its utilizable fiber. Additionally, the term “hemp seed” is recognized when the material is used as a source of seed oil. For ganja, the resinous blend of cannabinoids that localized mainly in the trichomes of floral tissues is used for recreational or as therapeutic drugs (Small 2015; Clarke and Merlin 2016). The international criteria, nonetheless, deems CBD as the major cannabinoid composition in the floral tissue of industrial hemp which is typically about 2% weight by weight (w/w) or less, and THC should be less than 0.3% w/w, although the European Union standard is not over 0.2% w/w (Hu et al. 2019). Ganja, on the other hand, is dominated by THC, which frequently reaches 20% w/w (Chandra et al. 2017). Apart from the differences in the levels of cannabinoid, hemp, and ganja are quite difficult to distinguish by their morphologies (Datwyler and Weiblen 2006). Sawler et al. (Sawler et al. 2015) also stated that genetic distinction, such as employing specific genes linked in THC production, is insufficient to distinguish hemp from ganja. Hemp plants are usually tall, unbranched, and grown for a high ratio of fibrous stem-to-floral material, with a higher number of flowers. Only the seed of ganja is listed as a narcotic in Thailand’s existing legislation (Gazette and Health Mo 2020). However, the basis of separation of the ganja and hemp seeds employed by the Thai government has not been clearly described.
Ganja, like all other angiosperms, has a life cycle that includes seed, seed germination, seedling, vegetative phases, and flowering (Mediavilla et al. 1998) (Fig. 3A). For the pharmaceutical industry, quality control (i.e., the content of medical-grade cannabinoids, biomass, and resin), seedling propagation is considerably less advantageous than vegetative or cutting propagation to avoid male plants and cross pollination of different varieties (Chandra et al. 2020). When sexually propagated, a stable-line germinating seed lot and a standardized growing process are crucial (Chandra et al. 2010). To initiate the rapid growth, sprouting seeds (germinating taproot) require moisture, air, and heat (Fig. 2B). The seed produces its first two leaves, also known as the cotyledons, after 2 weeks. These cotyledons are not true leaves but contain food for the young plant to survive during the first few days. The next set of leaves to appear are the “real leaves,” which resemble the classic cannabis leaves. For the first 3 weeks, the seedling(s) require a minimum of 18 h of light per day to stimulate their growth. Male plants that flower earlier are removed during the early flowering stage, and female plants are kept under the 12-h photoperiod until they reach maturity (Chandra et al. 2017; Chandra et al. 2020). In fact, when grown in hot, dry regions, the temperate hemp seedlings can transform into the narcotic cultivars (Small 2015; Bouquet 1950). Based on the current Thai law, the term ganja seed is ambiguous. However, the legal procedure requires that the applicant for growing license provides the details of seed origins with or without variety name and reports the amount of possession (ONCB 2020). Mother plants of the desired genotypes are cultivated vegetatively with an artificial 18-h artificial light supply for the asexual approach. The vegetative plants are used to produce cutting with rooting hormone, which are maintained in high humidity and continuous light to produce vigorous root system (Potter 2004) (Fig. 3C). The details of additional propagation material, like those required for seed, must be provided throughout the licensing process (ONCB 2020).
The minimal requirements for establishing the cultivation area for medical ganja farmers’ licensing applications in Thailand include the considerations of location, storage and security, controls, and administrative activities for prevention (MOPH 2019). Production, distribution, and utilization plans, as well as the purchasing order or agreement formed between farmers, farm owners, and buyers, should determine the size and amounts of cultivation (ONCB 2020). The initial prerequisite for either indoor or outdoor growing is consent documentation of land or space utilized in a given location (providing evidence of ownership of the property, the geographical address with details of the GPS monitoring system). The growing space has to be protected with secured walls and durable doors with limited number of entrances (including the fire exit). Clear label with the statement “Class-5 narcotic drugs production area” as no less than 3 cm needs to be well exposed. Propagating and cultivation areas are to be separated (Fig. 4). Cultivation must adhere to Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) for herbs and standard operations for cultivating cannabis, with Thai FDA inspections for active cannabinoids and heavy metals on a regular basis (Puttasrijaru 2019; ACFS 2018). Finally, the permission holder has to provide Thai FDA with the standard protocols for logistics control, which includes the harvesting, transportation, and disposal for tracking. Furthermore, full security service (viz. security, electronic access control and CCTV) should be installed with the limit access to the growing site. The requirements for obtaining the permission in Thailand are concluded in Table 1. Similar requirements have been established in Canada for licensed growers. There, they are able to apply for subclasses of licenses, viz. micro, standard or nursery depending on the purpose and scale of production (Application requirements for cannabis cultivation, processing and medical sales licences 2018). In Australia, however, harvesting is excluded from the cultivation license; instead, the grower has to apply for production licenses in addition to growing (ODC 2020).
We used the value proposition canvas to highlight the true value offer to Thai farmers when looking at the cannabis laws (Clark et al. 2012). We looked at the areas of (1) products/services—the national ganja policy—(2) gain creators—how are farmers benefiting from the policy—from the farmers’ perspective—and (3) pain relievers—how do they alleviate the discomfort? (Pokorná et al. 2015). Figure 5illustrates the value propositioning of the current ganja policy. The ultimate goal of legalizing marijuana cultivation (at least partially) is to protect cannabis-dependent patients' rights to obtain cannabis for medical purposes under the supervision of a licensed physician, as well as to strengthen the country’s pharmaceutical security and prevent pharmaceutical monopolies. (Kanato et al. 2020). According to the Thai FAO, there are around 40 medical conditions for which cannabis can be legally prescribed, and only about 400 medical practitioners who can authorize its usage (Cannacata 2020; Sornpaisarn et al. 2019). Cannabis, on the other hand, was said to have the potential to boost Thailand’s economic growth (Bangkok Post 2019). Therefore, the actual pain from the agricultural sectors was that cultivation, possession, and trade were previously offensive according to the out-date provisions of the Narcotics Act, B.E. 2522 (1979). Furthermore, experts warn that legalizing ganja would cause more harm than good to the country, citing evidence that marijuana can lead to the usage of other narcotics (Saengpassa 2021). While the promulgation of the law was in-line with many countries advancing the uses of cannabis, the Thai growing permission was ambiguous and involving solely by the government approvals (Bone et al. 2018; Kirdphol and Junngam 2020). More crucially, the private sector is not yet explicitly allowed to hold licenses unless they are in cooperative with one of the government's licensees (Cannacata 2020). Overall, it appears that cannabis is not totally legal, and the existing license is unfavorable, particularly for small-scale growers.
Fig. 5
The review of the value propositioning of Thai cannabis permission policy
Uruguay and Canada are among the first countries to legalize ganja for recreational use. Canada intended to integrate public health and community safety with actual social usage, despite the fact that this was believed to be a tactical response to a powerful illicit market and high crime rates associated to drug sales in Uruguay (Cox 2018). In Thailand, following the implementation of this new law, it was evident that the number of users has increased dramatically. Later in 2022, home cultivation in Thailand may become legalized for non-commercial and medicinal purposes without further licenses (Reuters 2022). As a result, many investors are trying to position themselves within the legal medical market in order to obtain access to the legal recreational market. We believe that the government should invest in cannabis research and development, such as establishing legal age limits, prohibiting driving while intoxicated, and regulating the illicit market.
Conclusion
The Thai cannabis state’s legalization ambitions have been overwhelming for businesses and individuals looking to benefit from this medical drug from the start, while the current law provided much clearer definition for the narcotic parts from ganja. Because the preconditioning guidelines did not clearly distinguish the production purposes, it was questioned whether the proposed policy was more beneficial to the government than to the public state. The regulation should therefore be amended further to promote ganja as the economic crop of the country and for higher control and prevention of the cannabis misuse.
