Thai farmers welcomed a new law allowing cultivation and use of marijuana for medical purposes Wednesday, in an Asian first that promises an economic bonanza but also fears that foreign companies could reap the rewards.
Thailand’s National Assembly passed a bill Tuesday legalising the use of marijuana and kratom — a traditional herb — for research and medical use.
The move is a significant step for a region that levies harsh sentences for drug violations. It would also allow for the production, import and export of marijuana.
The bill, which still outlaws recreational use and has strict limits on the amount an individual can carry, requires royal assent to come into law, said National Assembly member Jet Sirathronont.
The National Farmers Council of Thailand praised the law as providing a “new economic crop” to help farmers diversify their production.
