In December, Thailand’s National Legislative Assembly passed legislation to allow for the medicinal use of cannabis and kratom in the kingdom by registered patients.
On February 18, King Maha Vajiralongkorn signed the legislation, which allows patients to obtain a medical marijuana prescription from a doctor.
The new regulations were published to the Royal Gazette on Wednesday,
Under the new law, anyone with any illness may register to use medical cannabis as long as they have the proper medical certificates.
According to the Bangkok Post, Food and Drug Administration secretary-general Tares Krassanairawiwong said that the FDA’s hotline number had been overwhelmed by people seeking more information.
Along with the permitting of medical cannabis, amnesty is being granted to people in possession of marijuana for the first 90 days of legalization. The grace period will end on May 19.
Recreational marijuana use remains illegal in Thailand, and all cannabis cultivation requires a license.
Patients can register at the FDA office in Bangkok or provincial health offices.
In a poll conducted in August of 2018 by the National Institute of Development Administration, 68 percent of respondents said that they were aware that cannabis could be used medicinally, and 72 percent indicated that they believed medical marijuana should be legal in Thailand.
