Thailand, which in the 1980s was one of the world’s top exporters of cannabis, wants to reap the rewards of the $10 billion - dollar - plus marijuana market. As more countries embrace the medicinal qualities of cannabis, the Government Pharmaceutical Organization - - under the Ministry of Public Health - - is trying to persuade the military government to approve studying the drug so it can market it for medical use.
Though it’s looking to allow medical marijuana testing on human subjects, Thailand’s government wants to maintain its tough reputation regarding drug trafficking. In a recent bust, police seized up to 1, 380 kilograms (3, 042 pounds) of marijuana and said there has been a recent surge in cases involving amphetamine pills, marijuana, ketamine and “ice” or crystal methamphetamine.
According to state media the government in June destroyed more than six tons of narcotics worth 13 billion baht ($390 million) from a total of 7, 245 drug trafficking cases, adding to the 129 tons of narcotics Thailand has destroyed since 1977. The Thai government still maintains that cannabis is illegal and will continue to enforce punishment for those possessing marijuana for recreational purposes, even with the consideration of medical cannabis legalization.
“It does seem hypocritical and cynical to be legalizing medical cannabis but maintaining harsh punishments for recreational users, ” wrote Steve Rolles, senior policy analyst for the Transform Drug Policy Foundation in the U. K. , in an email. “The punitive model is symptomatic of a wider problem with entrenched prohibitionist thinking; it’s proving hard to shake off despite the obvious cost and evidence of failure. "
Amending Laws
The military government’s cabinet of ministers in May gave the green light to amend the country’s drug laws to allow research on the effects of medicinal marijuana on humans. The bill is currently being debated in the National Legislative Assembly, which is expected to give the nod to legalization in up to nine months before it becomes law. That would make Thailand the first country in Asia to legalize medical cannabis.
The global marijuana market is projected to reach $23 billion by 2022, with an annual growth rate of 22 percent in the five - year forecast, according to Arcview Market Research. Currently the world market value for cannabis is $12. 9 billion for 2018 with the U. S. as the leader, yet in four years Canada and California are projected to capture up to 41 percent of the total global market.
Uruguay and Canada are leading the way on recreational cannabis. Germany broke barriers in 2017 for medical use.
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