Thailand to Free All Imprisoned on Cannabis Charges

Thailand’s Office of the Courts of Justice has officially notified enforcement agencies to prepare for the June 9th release of 3,219 inmates convicted of cannabis-related offenses and another 884 held on cannabis charges, reports the Bangkok Post.

Thailand has been leading Southeast Asia and the world in cannabis reform. Now, its government has eclipsed even the U.S. in officially sanctioning the release of those incarcerated on charges related to a plant now seen in a new light. The removal of cannabis’ from Thailand’s Category 5 of narcotics on June 9 will not only free cannabis usage, but also human beings.

Where America doesn’t lead the way
According to the Last Prisoner Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to cannabis criminal justice reform, 40,000 cannabis prisoners in America remain in their cells — convicted of an activity that is no longer a crime. At the end of April, President Biden issued clemencies to just 78 individuals, consisting of three pardons and 75 commutations for people serving sentences for nonviolent drug offenses, far behind his campaign promise made during the 2020 election.

The logo of Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health, which views cannabis usage as no longer criminal.

Thawatchai Chaiwat, deputy director-general of the Thai Corrections Department, said the inmates’ unconditional release stems from the Public Health Ministry regulation ending cannabis’ classification as a Category 5 narcotic. Per the regulation change published on Feb 9, all parts of cannabis and hemp plants, except extracts containing more than 0.2% of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), will no longer be on the Healthy Ministries narcotics list in June.

The regulation absolves anyone of a crime who produced, imported, exported, possessed, sold or consumed cannabis when legalization takes place. They are no longer deemed offenders or convicts under the law.

All criminal records of those convicted for cannabis will be expunged.