Thailand legalizes medical marijuana

 Much to the surprise of many, Thailand has officially joined the growing trend of weed legalization across the globe as South Asia’s first country to make marijuana use legal. Though it may be several years yet before they catch up to some more recent changes in world cannabis laws, it appears they are well on their way to joining the ranks of countries who have already successfully decriminalized marijuana use.

Unfortunately, Thai weed won’t be found in any regular dispensary nor will it be available to the average person without a medical license. The legalization of medical cannabis in Thailand will be incredibly strict and require a fairly lengthy application to obtain.

On December 28, 2018, the Thailand military government officially approved marijuana and kratom for medical use for licensed users. Claiming this win as a gift to citizens of Thailand coming just in time for New Years, the change in laws are making history as an entirely different section of the globe that has maintained strict rules in an attempt to crack down on drug trafficking and local crime. Thailand currently has regulations that punish cannabis use and sales that range from still penalties to even death. While the legislator has made the decision public, it will still need the seal of approval which isn’t expected to meet resistance.

It appears that the science behind marijuana and it’s benefits that have now been documented and proven has been enough to convince several countries to reconsider their stance on the legality of cannabis. World cannabis laws are slowly shifting towards weed legalization across the board leaving many citizens wondering what will come next as the reclassification of this drug changes stigmas that are still prominent even in regions that have already completely decriminalized the use of marijuana for both recreational and medicinal use.

World Cannabis Laws

Wondering where you can vacation to and still partake while en route? World legalization is happening, but it is slow and still hasn’t quite made traveling with cannabis predictable. The laws from country to country vary dramatically and should be fully investigated long before taking any chances. If your dream destination isn’t on this list, then chances are smoking a joint while you are away is out of the question.

• Antigua and Barbuda- Cultivation and use is decriminalized
• Argentina- Recreational use has been decriminalized, and medical use is legal. Cultivation is illegal
• Australia- Recreational use has been decriminalized and medical use is legal. Cultivation is legal for medical use
• Austria- Recreational use has been decriminalized and medical use is legal. Cultivation is legal for medical use
• Bangladesh- Though marijuana is still illegal, laws surrounding possession are rarely enforced
• Belgium- Recreational use has been decriminalized, and medical use is legal. Cultivation of one plant has been decriminalized
• Belize- Recreational use has been decriminalized along with possession of up to 10 grams. Cultivation is illegal
• Bolivia- Recreational use has been decriminalized along with possession of up to 50 grams. Cultivation is illegal
• Cambodia- Though marijuana is illegal in Cambodia the laws surrounding use and possession are rarely enforced
• Canada- Recreational use has been decriminalized along with possession of up to 30 grams. Cultivation of up to four plants is legal
• Chile- Recreational use has been decriminalized, and medical use is legal. Cultivation for medical use is allowed
• Columbia- Recreational use along with possession of up to 15 grams has been decriminalized. Cultivation of up to 20 plants is legal
• Costa Rica- Recreational use along with possession and cultivation have been decriminalized
• Croatia- Recreational use along with possession had been decriminalized. Cultivation is not allowed
• Cyprus- Recreational use and possession are illegal, but medical use with a license is legal
• Czech Public- Recreational use along with personal possession of up to 10 grams has been
  decriminalized. Medical use and cultivation of up to five plants are legal
• Denmark- Recreational use is illegal though often unenforced. Medical use and cultivation are legal with a license
• Ecuador- Recreational use and personal possession of up to 10 grams is legal. Cultivation is now allowed.
• Estonia- Recreational use and possession have been decriminalized. Medical use with a permit is allowed. Cultivation is illegal.
• Finland- Recreational use and personal possession is illegal though rarely enforced. Medical use and cultivation are legal with a license.
• Georgia- Recreational use and possession are legal however selling marijuana is not. Cultivation is allowed for personal use.
• Germany- Recreational use and possession are illegal. Medical use and cultivation are permitted with a license.
• Ireland- Recreational use and possession are illegal. Medical use is permitted with a license. Cultivation is not allowed.
• Israel- Recreational use and possession will be decriminalized in April 2019. Medical use and cultivation are permitted with a license.
• Italy- Recreational use and possession are legal for religious reasons. Medical use is permitted. Cultivation is illegal.
• Jamaica- Recreational use and possession have been decriminalized. Medical use and cultivation areallowed with a license.
• Luxemburg- Recreational use and possession have been decriminalized. Medical use is legal. Cultivation is not permitted.
• Macedonia- Recreational use and personal possession is illegal. Medical cannabis with a permit is allowed. Cultivation is illegal.
• Malta- Recreational use and personal possession of up to 3.5 grams has been decriminalized. Cultivation is not permitted.
• Mexico- Recreational use and personal possession is legal but sales are not. Medical marijuana and cultivation are also permitted.
• Moldova- Recreational use and personal possession has been decriminalized. Cultivation is not legal.
• Netherlands- Recreational use and personal possession is illegal but rarely enforced. Medical use and the cultivation of up to five plants is permitted.
• Norway- Recreational use and personal possession is illegal. Medical use is legal. Cultivation is not allowed.
• Paraguay- Recreational use and personal possession of up to 10 grams has been decriminalized. Cultivation is illegal.
• Peru- Recreational use and personal possession has been decriminalized. Medical use with a license is legal. Cultivation is not permitted.
• Poland- Recreational use and personal possession is illegal. Medical use is allowed with a permit. Cultivation is not allowed.
• Portugal- Recreational use and personal possession of up to 25 grams has been decriminalized. Medical use is legal. Cultivation has also been decriminalized.
• Russia- Recreational use and personal possession of up to 6 grams has been decriminalized. Cultivation of up to 20 plants is legal.
• San Marino- Recreational use and personal possession is illegal. Medical use is permittedwith a license. Cultivation is not allowed.
• South Africa- Recreational use and personal possession are legal. Sales are not permitted. Medical use is legal, butthere is currently no system in place to provide permits or
  prescriptions. Cultivation is legal for personal use.
• South Korea- Recreational use and possession are illegal. Medical use and cultivation for
  medical purposes with a license are allowed.
• Spain- Recreational use and personal possession in private areas (not in public) is legal. Medical use and cultivation are legal without a permit.
• Sri Lanka- Recreational use and personal possession are illegal. Medial use and cultivation are legal with a license.
• Switzerland- Recreational use and personal possession is legal. Medical use is allowed. Cultivation is illegal.
• Thailand- Recreational use and personal possession is legal. Medical use is permitted with a license. Cultivation is not allowed.
• Turkey- Recreational and personal possession is illegal. Medical use and cultivation for personal use by those with a license arepermitted.
• Ukraine- Recreational use and personal possession of up to 5 grams has been decriminalized. Cultivation of up to ten plants is legal.
• United Kingdom- Recreational use and personal possession are not permitted. Medical use and cultivation for rare and severe medical conditions are allowed with a license.
• United States- Recreational use and possession is illegal at the federal level but permitted in thirteen different states. Medical use is legal in 33 states. Cultivation is illegal.
• Uruguay- Recreational use and personal possession is legal. Foreign visitors are prohibited from purchasing. Medical use and cultivation are permitted.
• Vanuatu- Recreational use and personal possession are illegal. Medical use and cultivation for personal use for those with a license are permitted.
• Zimbabwe- Recreational use and personal possession are illegal. Medical use is allowed. Cultivation is not permitted.

If you are looking for more Canadian specific laws surrounding the specifics of purchasing, possession, and cultivating marijuana than check out Pot Laws in Canada. To keep up with the latest cannabis news, don’t forget to check the news section at cannabis wiki regularly.