Thailand to ban recreational cannabis use by year-end, health minister says

BANGKOK -- Thailand will ban recreational use of marijuana by the end of this year but continue to allow its use for medical purposes, the health minister told Reuters in an interview. Critics say piecemeal rules were rushed out and adopted within a week of decriminalisation, and the government has drafted a new law to regulate cannabis use that is expected to take effect by year-end. The draft bill will go to cabinet for approval next month before heading to parliament to be passed before the end of the year, Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew said. "Without the law to regulate cannabis it will be misused," Cholnan said on Wednesday, referring to recreational use. "In the new law, cannabis will be a controlled plant, so growing it would require permission," he said.