These Doctors Want Marijuana Illegal Again; This State Broke A Cannabis Tax Revenue Record; Medical Hemp Gets A Green Light

Thai Doctors Seek To Suspend Cannabis Decriminalization

Thailand became the first South-East Asian country to decriminalize marijuana last month after the government removed the substance from the banned Category 5 narcotics list. This allowed Thais to grow cannabis plants at home and sell the crop legally.

Now several hundred doctors from Ramathibodi Hospital are pushing for the suspension of the newly proposed policy.

According to Bangkok Post, a total of 851 doctors, including lecturers and alumni of the faculty of medicine at Ramathibodi Hospital at Mahidol University, are seeking immediate suspension of marijuana decriminalization.

Dr. Smith Srisont, president of the Forensic Physicians Association of Thailand, posted a statement on his Facebook account.

The petitioners emphasized that cannabis has adverse effects on the bodies and brains of the young, seeking enactment of adequate measures and policies for the safe use of marijuana.

Illinois Rec Cannabis Tax Revenue Breaks Another Record In 2022

Tax reported from recreational cannabis sales in Illinois rose by 50% year-over-year to $445.3 million in the fiscal year 2022, Gov. J.B. Pritzker recently announced.

Cannabis tax disbursements to local governments totaled $146.2 million for the year, representing an increase of 77% from $146.2 million in 2021.

Meanwhile, recreational cannabis sales surged 50% year over year to $1.5 billion in 2022.

“Illinois has done more to put justice and equity at the forefront of this industry than any other state in the nation and has worked to ensure that communities hurt by the war on drugs have had the opportunity to participate,” Pritzker said in a press release. “The $1.5 billion in sales of adult-use cannabis in Illinois translates into significant tax revenue with a portion of every dollar spent being reinvested in communities that have suffered for decades.”

Interestingly, Illinois took in more tax dollars from cannabis receipts than alcohol in 2021. Cannabis taxes in the Prairie State exceeded liquor taxes for the first time in February 2021.

Zimbabwe OKs Hemp Use In Medicines

Zimbabwe gave the green light to the sale of hemp-based products as a part of therapy prescribed to patients.

The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe is now calling on all licensed cannabis and hemp producers as well as manufacturers, importers, exporters and retail pharmacists to qualify to sell the products through an application process.

Those interested are required to submit samples of their products and undergo an inspection of their production sites.

The regulator said earlier this month that “unlicensed sellers of cannabis will be prosecuted for selling unapproved.”

The applicants have already started submitting applications for approval of their hemp-based products, the regulator said.

Photo: Courtesy of succo, mrkukuruznik5 by Pixabay