BANGKOK, Feb 27 (TNA) – Individuals or organizations that possess or use cannabis must register themselves for amnesty within 90 days after the announcement in the Royal Gazette was put into effect today.
They can register themselves to possess and use cannabis for medical purposes at the Food and Drug Administration Office in Bangkok or at provincial public health offices across the country.
The public health ministerial regulations were published in the Royal Gazette yesterday under the subordinate legislations of the Narcotics Act to grant amnesty to users and possessors of cannabis.
Patients, who need to possess cannabis for health reasons have to submit the documents, verifying their need to use cannabis for their health problems. After seeking amnesty, they cam continue to use it but must receive a proper amount of cannabis only from authorized prescribers.
To seek amnesty, individuals or organizations, which are not qualified by law to possess cannabis must also report and hand over all of cannabis to the authorities for destroying.
Seven categories of qualified individuals and organizations include governmental organizations conducting relevant researches, teaching medicine, pharmacy, science and agriculture or providing agricultural services for the benefits of medicine and pharmacy.
The second group concerns professionals in medicine, pharmacy and dentistry, veterinarians, professionals in Thai traditional medicine and applied Thai traditional medicine, and folk doctors.
The third category covers private universities conducting researches and teaching on medicine and pharmacy.
The fourth group consists of registered community-based and social responsibility enterprises and agricultural cooperatives under the supervision of licensed governmental organizations and private universities.
The fifth group comprises international public transport operators. The sixth category refers to patients who need cannabis for treatment and must travel to or out of the country. The seventh group gathers other license applicants defined by a ministerial regulation. (TNA)
