Thailand to hand out 1 million free cannabis plants to celebrate legalization

[The_King]

Thailand is set to give away 1 million cannabis plants for free to households throughout the country in honor of the drug’s legalization.

Anutin Charnvirakul, Thailand’s public health minister, announced the mass plant giveaway in a Facebook post on Sunday.

The new rule will take effect on June 9, allowing people to grow cannabis at home after notifying their local government.

Despite its harsh drug laws, Thailand was the first Southeast Asian country to legalize medical use of marijuana in 2018. Charnvirakul signed a measure in February officially removing cannabis and hemp from its list of controlled narcotics.

Thai officials hope that continuing to ease restrictions will not only allow entrepreneurs and businesses to bring more money into the country but also attract tourists, after arrivals declined during the pandemic.

People will still need to abide by certain rules, including that the plants be of medical grade and used only for medicinal purposes.

Charnvirakul added that cannabis products sold by registered Thai companies can only contain less than 0.2% tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the psychoactive ingredient that causes highs.

"This will enable people and the government to generate more than 10 billion baht per year in revenue from marijuana and hemp," the health minister wrote.

Furthermore, cannabis grown at home can’t be used for commercial purposes without the proper licenses.

More than 4,700 applications for licenses have already been reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration since April.