Thailand Liberalises Sale And Possession Of Category II Narcotics

Source: The Nation

A new Public Health Ministry regulation allows the sale and possession of category II narcotics under the Narcotic Act BE 2522 (1979).

Category II comprises 102 ordinary narcotics, such as morphine, cocaine, codeine, medicinal opium, and fresh opium.

Drugs classified as category II in Thailand’s Narcotics Act include morphine, cocaine, ketamine, codeine, opium, medicinal opium and methadone. Under the new regulation, those who are approved by the government will be able to sell category II narcotics for medical treatment or disease prevention for patients or animals, medical or scientific research, or for government purposes.

Under the ministerial regulation, the permit to sell category II narcotics will be granted to applicants for the following purposes:

▪︎ Medical treatment or disease prevention in patients or animals;

▪︎ Medical or scientific analysis or study;

▪︎ For the benefit of the government.

The permit to possess category II narcotics will be granted to applicants for the following purposes:

▪︎ Manufacturing of category III narcotics, which are in the form of medicinal formula and contain narcotics of category II as ingredients in accordance with the rules prescribed by the minister, such as cough medicine, diarrhoea medicine;

▪︎ Used as an example for educational purposes;

▪︎ Medical or scientific analysis or study;

▪︎ For the benefit of the government;

▪︎ For providing first aid or in case of emergency in public transport ships or aeroplanes operating on international routes that are registered in the Kingdom.

This regulation will be effective 240 days after the date of announcement in the Royal Gazette.