The government on Friday received a bill to legalise the use of cannabis for medical purposes from the National Legislative Assembly and will return it to the NLA in 30 days for legislation.
The NLA earlier deliberated the bill, proposed by a group of 44 assemblymen. The bill would permit the production and importation of cannabis to serve medical research and treatment.
The bill would legalise limited possession of cannabis products for individual treatment and first aid. The Narcotics Control Board would control areas designated for cannabis plantations, use and possession.
Public Health Minister Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn received the bill from the NLA for consideration. He said the government would scrutinise it for 30 days and return it to the NLA for the first reading.
The finer details of the legislation have still to be settled and will be decided by a special committee.
Medicinal cannabis is usually taken in the form of cannabidiol extract, or CBD, one of the naturally occurring cannabinoid constituents of cannabis, also known as hemp, marijuana, ganja, weed and other names.