February 9th, 2024, the Thai Royal Gazette website published the Thai Ministry of Public Health’s regulations on the quantities of narcotics and psychotropic substances subject to punishment and substances believed to be possessed for consumption.
Exercising the power under Section 24, paragraph 2, of the Narcotics Control Act 2021, and Section 107, paragraph 2, of the Narcotics Control Act, the Minister of Public Health Cholnan Srikaew issued the following ministerial regulations:
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Narcotics subject to punishment in Category 1, there are 7 types, namely:
- Amphetamine (amphetamine or amfetamine) not exceeding 5 units for use or net weight not exceeding 500 milligrams
- N3 ethyl MDA or MDE not exceeding 5 units for use or net weight not exceeding 1,250 milligrams
- Heroin (heroin or diacetylmorphine) with a net weight not exceeding 300 milligrams
- (+)-lysergide or LSD or LSD 25 not exceeding 5 units for use or net weight not exceeding 100 milligrams
- Methamphetamine (methamphetamine or methamfetamine) not exceeding 5 units for use or net weight not exceeding 500 milligrams, in the form of flakes, or granules, with a net weight not exceeding 100 milligrams
- Methylenedioxyamphetamine or tenamfetamine or MDA not exceeding 5 units for use
- 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine or methylenedioxymethamphetamine or ecstasy or MDMA not exceeding 5 units for use or net weight not exceeding 1,250 milligrams
2. Narcotics subject to punishment in Category 2, there are 2 types, namely:
- Cocaine with a net weight not exceeding 200 milligrams
- Opium with a net weight not exceeding 5,000 milligrams
3. Narcotics subject to punishment in Category 5, there are 3 types, namely:
- Opium plants or other plants in the same genus that produce opium or opium alkaloids, with a net weight not exceeding 15,000 milligrams
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Psilocybin or psilocin-containing mushrooms or other mushrooms in the same genus, with a net weight not exceeding 135,000 milligrams
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Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, extracts from cannabis plants or cannabis extracts or products from cannabis, with a content exceeding 0.2% by weight and a net weight not exceeding 30,000 milligrams, in liquid form with a net volume not exceeding 30 milliliters
4. Substances in Category 1, there are 2 types, namely:
- Flualprazolam not exceeding 10 units for use or net weight not exceeding 1,300 milligrams
- Phenazepam not exceeding 10 units for use or net weight not exceeding 1,640 milligrams
5. Substances in Category 2, there are 6 types, namely:
- Alprazolam not exceeding 10 units for use or net weight not exceeding 1,300 milligrams
- Ketamine in liquid form with a net volume not exceeding 10 milliliters or net weight not exceeding 10,000 milligrams, in the form of flakes, granules, with a net weight not exceeding 500 milligrams
- Midazolam not exceeding 10 units for use or net weight not exceeding 2,080 milligrams
- Nimetazepam not exceeding 10 units for use or net weight not exceeding 1,890 milligrams
- Nitrazepam not exceeding 10 units for use or net weight not exceeding 5,560 milligrams
- Phentermine not exceeding 10 units for use or net weight not exceeding 3,200 milligrams
In layman’s terms, this means that the amounts listed above make one legally considered a drug user and not a dealer, which would lead to lesser legal penalties in most cases.
However, it requires completion of rehab programs and other legal requirements and may not apply to everyone, added the Public Health Ministry.
Some exceptions to who the lesser penalities could apply to include people with prior criminal records for drug dealing, people suspected of being drug dealers, etc.
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