BANGKOK, Nov 9 (TNA) — The National Legislative Assembly handed its bill to legalise the medical use of marijuana to the government.
A group of 44 NLA members proposed their bill to the assembly on Friday. It was drafted to amend the 1979 narcotic law to legalise the production, import and export of marijuana and kratom for medical purposes including medical treatment for individuals.
Under the bill, the Narcotics Control Board will designate areas for marijuana cultivation and use for medical purposes and control its amounts. The control will be defined with royal decrees.
The parties to obtain permission to possess marijuana will be ministries, local administrative organisations, the Thai Red Cross Society, the Government Pharmaceutical Organization, and medical professionals who are free of any narcotic punishment. The health ministry will issue such permission.
Receiving the bill from the NLA, Public Health Minister Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn said his ministry will consider it and return it to the NLA within 30 days to start its legislation process.
The NLA attached results from its opinion surveys on the proposed legalisation of marijuana to the submitted bill. They show most respondents support the move. (TNA)
