Thailand's Agriculture Department is working on new rules for cannabis and hemp seed imports. With some parts of the cannabis plant no longer being classified as narcotics, more people are turning to CBD, or cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive component found in hemp and cannabis.
According to Pichet Wiriyapapha, the department's director-general, the department is revising regulations to make the rules more transparent in light of the growing demand for hemp and cannabis. The department would also need authorization from those importing cannabis and hemp seeds. He claims that the latest cannabis and hemp seed legislation will be announced in May.
“At the moment, we only have four hemp strains produced for higher fibre yield, but none for higher CBD, which is currently needed for cosmetics and healthcare products. That is why, in order to meet the market's high demand, we must aggressively grow such a strain.”
CBD is well-known for its calming properties. Although there isn't much evidence to back up the claims, many people believe CBD can help with anxiety and depression, as well as muscle pain and arthritis. CBD is gaining popularity in Thailand, but parts of the cannabis plant that are high in the psychoactive compound tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, are still listed as a Category 5 narcotic.
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