Image: Reuters Berita 24 English - On Friday, a day after decriminalising the cultivation of cannabis for commercial purposes, Thailand be...
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| Image: Reuters |
Berita 24 English - On Friday, a day after decriminalising the cultivation of cannabis for commercial purposes, Thailand began a campaign to distribute one million free cannabis plants. However, the government discouraged people from getting high and warned that they could still be in violation of the law.
Thailand legalised medical marijuana for medical use in 2018, but is now planning to cultivate it as a cash crop and establish a profitable local industry.
"Do not utilise it and relax at home while avoiding all chores. These are not our official policy "Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul remarked at the launch in the northeastern province of Buriram, where the first one thousand seedlings were distributed.
"We have eradicated the stigma; it is being removed like a tattoo. Don't let it return, "He added that cannabis should be utilised to enhance wellness.
On Thursday, cannabis was removed off the country's list of controlled substances, allowing individuals to cultivate the plant if they register using a government app.
However, the government discourages its recreational use and public smoking is punishable by imprisonment and fines.
THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is restricted to 0.2 percent in cannabis extracts and products that may be sold in Thailand, such as oils and candies.
Home cultivation of cannabis needs registration with the government's PlookGanja or "grow ganja" smartphone application.
Anutin stated that over 300,000 people had enrolled with the app, which had millions of downloads from cannabis-curious individuals.
According to Thailand's correctional service, 3,000 persons who were incarcerated for cannabis-related offences have been released since the law changed this week.
