Speaking in New York, Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said that his government will amend the law on cannabis, to restrict its use to medical purposes and to control retail cannabis outlets, within six months.

During his interview with Bloomberg, the prime minister said that, since cannabis was decriminalised in Thailand last year, by removing it from the Category 5 drugs list, it has become the first country in Asia where cannabis is available for medical as well as recreational purposes, resulting in the rapid growth of retail outlets offering cannabis and its extracts over the counter.

He claimed that there is broad agreement among the 11 coalition parties that the use of cannabis and its extracts must be restricted to medical use.

Decriminalisation of cannabis and its extracts is the flagship policy of the Bhumjaithai party, the second largest party in the coalition during the election campaign.

Meanwhile, Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew said today (Thursday) that the Bhumjaithai party can resubmit its Cannabis Bill to parliament for consideration.

He maintains that, even though cannabis has been removed from the Category 5 drugs list, it is still regarded as a narcotic.

He stressed the need for the Cannabis Act to be amended to restrict its use to medical purposes, adding that the cultivation of cannabis plants should also be curtailed, especially the right of each household to grow up to 15 plants in their backyard.