Thailand to Allow Citizens to Grow Cannabis at Home to Sell to the Government

Thailand is intensifying its policies on legalizing medical marijuana and will soon allow all Thais to grow six cannabis plants at home and sell their homegrown harvest to the government, to be turned into medical marijuana.

"We are in the process of changing the laws to allow the medicinal use of cannabis freely," said newly appointed Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul in Bangkok. "We have great confidence that marijuana will be among the main agricultural products for Thai families. We are accelerating changes in the law. But there is a process for this."

"In the near future, families will be able to plant cannabis trees in their gardens like any other herb," assured the minister;

In addition to the historical pressure for the regulation of domestic cultivation, Thailand has built what the government describes as "the largest medicinal marijuana legislation on an industrial scale in Southeast Asia".

On September 2, researchers from Maejo University planted 12,000 new marijuana seedlings in northern Thailand, in Chiang Mai, while government officials watched. The seedlings were provided by the government's Department of Medical Services.

The Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) expects to grow the plants to harvest enough ingredients to manufacture one million bottles of cannabis oil, each containing 5 ml, by February 2020.

Not a matter of policy?

"The university will be a center where ordinary people can learn to plant and cultivate good quality marijuana. Cannabis is not a matter of policy; it is a product that can benefit people's health," says Anutin.

Although the minister claims that marijuana is not a political issue, he caused a stir before Thailand's general elections in March, campaigning for the legalization of domestic cultivation. He led the mid-sized campaign of the Bhum Jai Thai party earlier this year during the parliamentary elections, promising that each family could grow six marijuana plants. By the way, his Bhum Jai Thai party is now part of the dominant coalition.

He also ensured the economic advancement of voters, proposing the sale of each mature marijuana plant to the government for $2,225. Subsequently, a family could earn $13,350 by selling their entire batch of six plants. A quite attractive prospect, considering that the average salary in Thailand is $8,200 per year nationwide (or 24,000 baht per month).

Doesn't grow like a weed

Before Thai citizens raise their hopes for a potential green rush, cultivation experts warn that not all plants that reach maturity produce medical-grade cannabis. Also, they are difficult to grow. Amateur growers would likely produce low-grade marijuana. However, without taking the time to properly care for the plants or invest in needs like nutrients and proper lighting equipment, the produced flower potentially would not qualify for medical use, acquirable by the government.

Arguments for adult use

If cannabis for adults is allowed, private producers could obtain more natural profits from the protein plant with less quality control.

Anutin foresees that fully legalized marijuana would be a more significant and profitable crop for Thailand than rice, sugarcane, tapioca, rubber, or other products in the mainly agrarian economy of his country.

He suggested that Thailand's low wages may quantify competitiveness in international markets, compared to major foreign cannabis companies, where manufacturing costs are significantly higher.

Although, as the whole world rushes to the market to capitalize on and benefit from the healing and profitability possibilities of the plant, future competitors in Latin America, Africa, and other parts of Asia may outperform Thailand. Anutin believes that Thailand could gain a competitive advantage by creating niche strains for export.

Maejo University has developed a marijuana strain called Issara (independence), which offers 1:1 percentages of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), according to the Asia Times.

Thailand became the first nation in Southeast Asia to legalize medical marijuana and kratom in 2018. Marijuana for adults remains illegal in the kingdom, with penalties including imprisonment. However, if Anutin maintains the alleged non-political stance, this could soon be a thing of the past.