Thailand Cracks Down On Illegal Cannabis Products

By Kenny Teng

BANGKOK, July 14 (Bernama) -- The Thai government is intensifying measures to control the illegal sale of cannabis-infused processed products to protect public health, particularly that of children and young people.

Deputy Government Spokesperson Sasikan Watthanachan said the Thai government has tasked the Public Health Ministry, through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and provincial public health offices, to implement strict inspections and enforcement operations to clamp down on these illegal products.

“Public health officials have been authorised to arrest and fine business operators involved in including cannabis into food, snacks, or beverages that contain cannabis extracts exceeding legal limits.

“Where violations are found, cases must be referred to the police for legal proceedings,” she said in a statement published on the Royal Thai Government’s website on Monday.

Sasikan said the Ministry has already issued suspension orders for the licences of operators who breached the law, while offences such as adding cannabis to food without permission or failing to provide proper labelling carry penalties of up to 30,000 baht (US$920) in fines, up to three years’ imprisonment, or both.

The Thai government also reiterated its warning to the public, especially parents and teenagers, about the dangers of consuming “cannabis gummies”, which contain THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol).

THC, a psychoactive substance with addictive properties, can be rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream and enter the brain, causing relaxation, euphoria, stress relief, and elevated mood.

Consumption in large quantities – especially by children or first-time users – can cause a rapid heartbeat, vomiting, dizziness, blurred vision, muscle weakness, hallucinations, auditory hallucinations, paranoia, rapid breathing, and high blood pressure.

On July 6, local Thai media reported that a two-year-old girl was hospitalised after she accidentally consumed 10 cannabis-infused gummy bears.

-- BERNAMA