Thailand’s new government appears to be performing a u-turn on its decision to decriminalise the use of cannabis for recreational use, with new legislation set to ban the plant.
Just 18-months ago, the country moved to allow recreational use of cannabis, this kicked off the beginning of a rapidly building cannabis industry. The new law will pull back on access to the drug, allowing for medicinal use only.
The government has asked for public feedback on the new law, which would see large fines and even prison time for anyone caught with the drug.
While smoking cannabis in public remained illegal under the relaxed law, changes will ban any advertising or marketing of cannabis related products.
Last June, Thailand became the first country in Asia to fully decriminalise cannabis, a region where many countries have heavy penalties for possession of the drug, including death.
