Thailand De-listed Cannabis As A Narcotic!
Cannabis and hemp extracts along with three other narcotic drugs are officially delisted from Category 5 Narcotics as identified in the Narcotics Act for medical purposes only, Thailand’s Royal Gazette announced!
According to the notification of the Ministry of Public Health, cannabis and hemp along with its substances, such as latex and oil, that legally grow in Thailand are not narcotics. Their stalks, stem cores, fibres, and roots are also excepted as well as the leaves that no buds are attached to.
Cannabidiol (CBD) extracted from marijuana or hemp is excepted if having not more than 0.2 percent by weight of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Extracts of marijuana or hemp having CBD as the main constituent must not exceed more than 0.2% by weight of THC.
Hemp seed, hemp seed oil, and hemp seed extract are also excluded from the category as they are considered Food as identified in the Food Act and Cosmetics as identified in the Cosmetics Act.
Other narcotics drugs listed in the category include opium, kratom, and magic mushrooms.
However, it is also worth noting that the plants are still listed as Narcotics but only some parts of the substances or chemicals are not considered Narcotics as they will be featured in medical development.
“Giggling bread” and “joyfully dancing salad” aren’t the usual dishes on a menu in Thailand, but one eatery is hoping its cannabis-infused cuisine can lure foreign tourists and take the taboo out of the recently legalized leaf.
The restaurant at the Chao Phya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital in Prachin Buri started serving its own happy meals this month, after Thailand de-listed cannabis as a narcotic, allowing state-authorized firms to cultivate the plant.
“Cannabis leaves, when put in the food or even a small amount … it will help the patient to recover faster from the illness,” said Pakakrong Kwankao, the project leader at the hospital.
“The cannabis leaf can improve appetite and make people sleep well, and also be in a mood, in a good mood.”
The hospital is known as a pioneer in Thailand for studying marijuana and its ability to relieve pain and fatigue.
Thailand in 2017 became the first Southeast Asian country to legalize cannabis for medical use and has since opened numerous medical marijuana clinics.
The restaurant’s offerings include a happy pork soup, deep-fried bread topped with pork and a marijuana leaf, and a salad of crispy cannabis leaves served with ground pork and chopped vegetables.