Latest news with #SomsakThepsuthin
Japan Times
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
Surge in cannabis smuggling prompts Thailand to tighten rules
Thailand aims to clamp down on easy access to cannabis by mandating medical prescriptions amid rising instances of tourists attempting to smuggle out large quantities of weed. Dispensaries will be allowed to sell cannabis only to those with licenses or with prescriptions from medical professionals, including traditional medicine practitioners, when proposed changes to existing rules take effect in about 40 days. The amount sold will also be limited to 30 days of use, according to the Ministry of Public Health. The new rules, which will be binding on locals and foreigners alike, come after Thai authorities intercepted 73 kilograms of cannabis earlier this week at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport. Weed smuggled out of Thailand has reached the United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, Hong Kong and many other destinations, Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin said. Thailand will now make it harder to access cannabis except for medical reasons, he added. Thailand was the first country in Asia to decriminalize cannabis in 2022, but has so far struggled to regulate and contain its free use. A legal vacuum, without a cannabis law in place, has allowed more than 10,700 cannabis dispensaries to open nationwide, with many in popular tourist areas and business districts in Bangkok and beyond. The Southeast Asian country has also made several policy U-turns after recreational smoking became a hot-button issue due to wider societal concerns over addiction. Somsak's ruling Pheu Thai Party had vowed to relist marijuana as a narcotic to restrict its use to just medical purposes, but opposition from Bhumjaithai Party, the second-biggest group in the ruling coalition, has forced Pheu Thai to walk back on its pledge and keep the plant legal. While cannabis can be consumed within Thailand, it has been smuggled out of the country in tourist luggages or by mail. Since British and Thai authorities joined forces last year, over 50 British nationals have been arrested in Thailand for attempted cannabis smuggling. Thai airport authorities have also intercepted over 800 cannabis smugglers and seized over 9 tons of cannabis, the British government said in a statement. The new rules are likely to be temporary as Thailand is still working on a full-fledged cannabis bill to regulate the wider uses, sales, exports and production of the plant. The draft bill was unveiled in September but hasn't been approved by the cabinet or reached parliament for deliberation. "The cannabis bill will go on its own track, but it can't be rushed. We're looking at two more years before it's ready,' Somsak told reporters. "If people are still unhappy, we'll recriminalize it.' The public and industry stakeholders have until June 5 to submit feedback on the proposed ministry regulation, which will then be submitted to the cabinet for approval.
The Star
24-05-2025
- Health
- The Star
Surge in cannabis smuggling prompts Thailand to tighten rules
Dispensaries will be allowed to sell cannabis only to those with licences or with prescriptions from medical professionals. -- PHOTO: AFP BANGKOK (Bloomberg): Thailand aims to clamp down on easy access to cannabis by mandating medical prescriptions amid rising instances of tourists attempting to smuggle out large quantities of weed. Dispensaries will be allowed to sell cannabis only to those with licenses or with prescriptions from medical professionals, including traditional medicine practitioners, when proposed changes to existing rules take effect in about 40 days. The amount sold will also be limited to 30 days of use, according to the Ministry of Public Health. The new rules, which will be binding on locals and foreigners alike, come after Thai authorities intercepted 73 kilograms of cannabis earlier this week at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport. Weed smuggled out of Thailand has reached the United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, Hong Kong and many other destinations, Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin said. Thailand will now make it harder to access cannabis except for medical reasons, he added. Thailand was the first country in Asia to decriminalize cannabis in 2022, but has so far struggled to regulate and contain its free use. A legal vacuum, without a cannabis law in place, has allowed more than 10,700 cannabis dispensaries to open nationwide, with many in popular tourist areas and business districts in Bangkok and beyond. The Southeast Asian country has also made several policy u-turns after recreational smoking became a hot-button issue due to wider societal concerns over addiction. Somsak's ruling Pheu Thai Party had vowed to re-list marijuana as a narcotic to restrict its use to just medical purposes, but opposition from Bhumjaithai Party, the second-biggest group in the ruling coalition, has forced Pheu Thai to walk back on its pledge and keep the plant legal. While cannabis can be consumed within Thailand, it has been smuggled out of the country in tourist luggages or by mail. Since British and Thai authorities joined forces last year, over 50 British nationals have been arrested in Thailand for attempted cannabis smuggling. Thai airport authorities have also intercepted over 800 cannabis smugglers and seized over 9 tons of cannabis, the British government said in a statement. The new rules are likely to be temporary as Thailand is still working on a full-fledged cannabis bill to regulate the wider uses, sales, exports and production of the plant. The draft bill was unveiled in September but hasn't been approved by the cabinet or reached parliament for deliberation. "The cannabis bill will go on its own track, but it can't be rushed. We're looking at two more years before it's ready,' Somsak told reporters. "If people are still unhappy, we'll re-criminalize it.' The public and industry stakeholders have until June 5 to submit feedback on the proposed ministry regulation, which will then be submitted to the cabinet for approval. -- ©2025 Bloomberg L.P.
South China Morning Post
24-05-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Thailand tightens cannabis rule after tourists caught trying to smuggle drug out
Thailand aims to clamp down on easy access to cannabis by mandating medical prescriptions amid rising instances of tourists attempting to smuggle out large quantities of weed. Dispensaries will be allowed to sell cannabis only to those with licenses or with prescriptions from medical professionals, including traditional medicine practitioners, when proposed changes to existing rules take effect in about 40 days. The amount sold will also be limited to 30 days of use, according to the Ministry of Public Health. The new rules, which will be binding on locals and foreigners alike, come after Thai authorities intercepted 73kg (160lbs) of cannabis earlier this week at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport. Weed smuggled out of Thailand has reached the United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, Hong Kong and many other destinations, Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin said. Thailand will now make it harder to access cannabis except for medical reasons, he added. Thailand was the first country in Asia to decriminalise cannabis in 2022, but has so far struggled to regulate and contain its free use.
Mint
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Surge in Cannabis Smuggling Prompts Thailand to Tighten Rules
Thailand aims to clamp down on easy access to cannabis by mandating medical prescriptions amid rising instances of tourists attempting to smuggle out large quantities of weed. Dispensaries will be allowed to sell cannabis only to those with licenses or with prescriptions from medical professionals, including traditional medicine practitioners, when proposed changes to existing rules take effect in about 40 days. The amount sold will also be limited to 30 days of use, according to the Ministry of Public Health. The new rules, which will be binding on locals and foreigners alike, come after Thai authorities intercepted 73 kilograms of cannabis earlier this week at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport. Weed smuggled out of Thailand has reached the United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, Hong Kong and many other destinations, Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin said. Thailand will now make it harder to access cannabis except for medical reasons, he added. Thailand was the first country in Asia to decriminalize cannabis in 2022, but has so far struggled to regulate and contain its free use. A legal vacuum, without a cannabis law in place, has allowed more than 10,700 cannabis dispensaries to open nationwide, with many in popular tourist areas and business districts in Bangkok and beyond. The Southeast Asian country has also made several policy u-turns after recreational smoking became a hot-button issue due to wider societal concerns over addiction. Somsak's ruling Pheu Thai Party had vowed to re-list marijuana as a narcotic to restrict its use to just medical purposes, but opposition from Bhumjaithai Party, the second-biggest group in the ruling coalition, has forced Pheu Thai to walk back on its pledge and keep the plant legal. While cannabis can be consumed within Thailand, it has been smuggled out of the country in tourist luggages or by mail. Since British and Thai authorities joined forces last year, over 50 British nationals have been arrested in Thailand for attempted cannabis smuggling. Thai airport authorities have also intercepted over 800 cannabis smugglers and seized over 9 tons of cannabis, the British government said in a statement. The new rules are likely to be temporary as Thailand is still working on a full-fledged cannabis bill to regulate the wider uses, sales, exports and production of the plant. The draft bill was unveiled in September but hasn't been approved by the cabinet or reached parliament for deliberation. 'The cannabis bill will go on its own track, but it can't be rushed. We're looking at two more years before it's ready,' Somsak told reporters. 'If people are still unhappy, we'll re-criminalize it.' READ: Thailand Unveils Bill to Regulate Cannabis And Keep It Legal The public and industry stakeholders have until June 5 to submit feedback on the proposed ministry regulation, which will then be submitted to the cabinet for approval. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
The Independent
08-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Thailand warns of ‘deafness fever' outbreak linked to raw pork
Thailand has issued nationwide health alerts after confirmed outbreaks of anthrax and Streptococcus suis, a bacterial infection locally known as 'deafness fever', from eating or handling raw pork. Public health authorities in the Mukdahan province have identified three confirmed anthrax cases so far, Pattaya Mail reported. While one of the patients has since died, the other two are being treated in local hospitals. Surveillance has been ramped up across the region and 636 people traced as having had contact with the infected persons, the media outlet reported. Of those, 538 have completed a mandatory week of monitoring for symptoms affecting the skin and the gastrointestinal tract. The remaining 98 people remain under observation and are receiving a preventative course of Doxycycline. Anthrax, caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, is typically contracted by contact with infected animals or contaminated soil. It does not spread between people. The resilient spores of the bacterium can persist in the environment for decades. Health officials have urged the public to consume only cooked beef and avoid having raw or undercooked meat. Separately, a surge in Streptococcus suis infections in the Phrae province has caused 14 confirmed cases and at least two deaths, public health minister Somsak Thepsuthin said. The bacterial illness, dubbed 'deafness fever' due to its potential to cause permanent hearing loss, has been linked to the consumption of traditional raw pork dishes such as larb moo, a spicy minced pork salad. Mr Thepsuthin said most patients had recently consumed raw pork, especially larb moo. He advised that individuals experiencing high fever and muscle pain, especially those who might have handled or eaten raw pork, should urgently seek medical care. 'Prompt treatment is crucial, as Streptococcus suis infection can cause permanent hearing loss if it is left untreated,' the public health ministry said in an advisory. Mr Thepsuthin said that inter-agency coordination was underway to monitor the situation and maintain public confidence, and regular updates would be issued as investigations progressed. Health authorities, meanwhile, continue to emphasise food safety and proper preparation of meat as key steps to prevent further spread.
