Thailand Becomes the First Asian Country to Legalize Marijuana

Tags: International News

Thailand has become the first country in Asia to legalize the cultivation, sale and use of Marijuana.

• Uruguay and Canada are, so far, the only two countries that have legalized recreational marijuana on a national basis.

• Thailand's government has warned that those who smoke in public will be sentenced to 3 months in prison and a fine of 25,000 baht ($780).

• What is Marijuana?

• Marijuana also called weed, is a greenish-grey mixture of the dried flowers of Cannabis sativa.

• The main psychoactive (mind-altering) chemical in marijuana, responsible for most of the intoxicating effects, is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

• The chemical is found in resin produced by the leaves and buds primarily of the cannabis plant. 

• More than 500 other chemicals are also found in the plant, including more than 100 compounds that are chemically related to THC.

• It is used for smoking, drinking, within food, or as an extract.

• Some benefits of Marijuana

• It works as a healer and has found mention in the Ayurveda.

• It can be used to treat a number of diseases like multiple sclerosis, arthritis, epilepsy, insomnia, HIV/AIDS treatment, cancer.

• It is a super-industrial carbon negative raw material.

• It is being used to make bio-fuel, bio-plastics and even construction material in certain countries. 

• By legalizing and taxing marijuana, the government can generate huge amounts of revenue.

• It has the potential to become a cash crop for poor marginal farmers.

• Its consumption was never regarded as a more socially deviant behaviour than drinking.

• Its consumption was never regarded as a more socially deviant behavior than drinking alcohol.