This was my reaction when I read that cannabis also known as marijuana or weed was decriminalised in Thailand.
But before you pull a Snoop Dog on your next trip to Thailand, do know that you are not allowed to consume any while you’re there.
To be more specific, cannabis is technically not legalised, but it is decriminalised in Thailand.
We write this article, not with the intention to encourage drug usage.
Rather, we hope that you will be aware of the financial and legal consequences of taking cannabis especially when you’re overseas!
Consumption of Marijuana or Hemp For Recreational or Commercial Purposes Across Countries & Offences
Before getting to the legality of consumption, possession and trading for commercial purposes, it would be good to understand what cannabis actually is.
Cannabis is a plant (scientifically known as marijuana and hemp) that contains a psychoactive compound, Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which makes people “high”.
Legally, we should understand that decriminalisation of cannabis is actually different from legalising cannabis.
Decriminalising means that the consumption of weed is tolerated and not criminalised, and may at times, be subject to a certain level of THC.
Here’s a summary of cannabis laws and regulations in countries where the drug has been decriminalised or even legalised:
| Country | Decriminalised / Legal / Illegal to Consume for Recreational Purposes | Decriminalised / Legal / Illegal to Sell For Commercial Purposes or Medical Usage | Offences & Punishments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | South Australia, the Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory have decriminalised cannabis by applying civil penalties if a person meets certain eligibility criteria. All other states have no decriminalisation options for any illicit drugs. | Only when it is licensed for medicinal uses, any illegal supply of cannabis is treated as a serious offence | Different penalties apply to different drugs in different states. Prison sentences range from two years to 20 years imprisonment for the cultivation of cannabis. |
| Canada | Legal. An adult 18 years of age or older, can legally possess 150 grams of fresh cannabis. | Cannabis edible products and concentrates are legal for sale and healthcare providers are authorised for selling medical cannabis. The sale or provision of cannabis to any person under the age of 18 is prohibited. | If found to give or sell cannabis to youth, or using youths to commit a cannabis-related offence, a person can face a maximum penalty of 14 years in jail. If found to promote cannabis to youths, offenders could face a find of up to $5 million or 3 years in jail. |
| France | Illegal | Illegal | Persons found in possession and consumption of cannabis can be punished with one year’s imprisonment or a fine of up to 4,000 Euros (S$5,765) |
| Germany | Decriminalised with most states allowing one to possess up to 6 grams of cannabis, and some states up to 10 or 15 grams. | An authorisation is required for the sale and import of medical cannabis. | The possession or selling of drugs varies depending on the circumstances from a fine of up to 25,000EUROS (S$36,032.50) to 2 years in prison for offenders over the age of 21. |
| Hong Kong | Illegal | Illegal | The possession or consumption of cannabis is punishable by fines of up to HK$1 million (~S$179,264) or jailed up to 7 years, or both. Drug trafficking carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, whereas growing cannabis plants carries a fine of HK$100,000 (~S$17,926) or a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison or both. |
| Indonesia | Illegal | Illegal | If convicted for the use or distribution of cannabis or any controlled substances, one can face up to 12 years in prison. |
| Italy | Illegal | An authorisation is required for the cultivation, sale and import of cannabis and the sale of cannabis for recreational use is prohibited. | If convicted for the possession and sale of cannabis for recreational purposes, one can face imprisonment of up to 6 years. |
| Japan | Illegal | Illegal | If convicted for the use and distribution, one can face up to 5 years of prison, while possession with the intent to profit is punishable by up to 7 years imprisonment and/or up to a 2,000,000 Yen (S$20,758) fine. |
| Malaysia | Illegal | Products containing cannabis used for medicinal purposes can be imported and used in Malaysia if the product is in compliance with the law, and registered with the Drug Control Authority. The sale or retail supply for the medical treatment of particular patients must be carried out by a certified medical practitioner or pharmacist, while importers must have a license and import authorization. | The possession of 20 - 50 grams of cannabis may be punishable with imprisonment for 2 to 5 years, fines and/or corporal punishment. Possession of more than 200 grams of cannabis is presumed to be trafficking, which is punishable by the death penalty. |
| Mexico | Legal. Individual users are allowed to carry up to 28 grams of marijuana and grow six cannabis plants at home. | Cannabis could also be purchased by adults over 18 at authorised businesses and grown at a larger scale by licensed groups. Products with wide industrial applications (cosmetics and dietary supplements) and derivatives with THC concentrations of 1% or less may be commercialised, exported, and imported as long as they adhere to sanitary standards. | Possession of more than 200 grams can result in a six-year prison sentence; possession of fewer than 200 grams is subject to a $500 fine. 18 and above who grow more than 8 cannabis plants at home may also face a 10-year prison sentence. Adults are not allowed to smoke in front of youngsters or in public areas. |
| Singapore | Illegal | Illegal | If found guilty of drug use or possession, a fine of up to $20,000, up to 10 years in prison, or both. The cultivation of the cannabis plant is an offence and any person convicted may face a maximum of 20 years imprisonment or a $40,000 fine or both. Depending on the quantity, those found guilty of drug import, export, or trafficking may receive the death penalty. |
| South Korea | Illegal | Gyeongbuk, a southeast province in South Korea, is the only regulation-free zone where licensed farmers are permitted to cultivate cannabis for medical purposes | If convicted for use, unlicensed distribution and cultivation, one can face up to 5 years in prison |
| Thailand | Weed in Thailand is decriminalised. Smoking pot is illegal only if one causes a nuisance with the smoke or smell. | Food and beverage products must contain less than 0.2% THC to be legally sold, and marijuana can be used for medical purposes. Thai residents are allowed to trade marijuana and hemp. Cannabis for medical purposes is allowed for industrial, personal and medical practitioners. | A person can be fined up to 20,000 baht (S$815) for growing cannabis without notifying the government. The punishable for selling cannabis without a licence is a fine of up to 300,000 baht (S$12,225) or three years in jail, or both. |
| The Netherlands | Weed in the Netherlands is only decriminalised; Individuals are only allowed to carry not more than 5 grams of weed, do not cause public disturbance and smoke in an area that is not banned. | A coffee shop is allowed 500 grams on-site at any time; Households are not permitted to grow cannabis or marijuana plants at home or anywhere else. If 5 or fewer plants are discovered, the grower will be required to discard them and, in most cases, will not be prosecuted. | Possession:With more than 5 grams of cannabis or more than 5 cannabis plants, you can be fined up to 25,000NLG (S$19,532), jailed for up to 2 years, or both. Importing/Exporting: The maximum penalty for importing or exporting soft drugs is 4 years imprisonment and a fine of 100,000NLG (S$78,130). Habitual offenders are liable to a maximum penalty of 16 years imprisonment and a fine of 1,000,000NLG (S$781,301). Offenders may also be deprived of any money or property gained from their offence. |
| United Kingdom | Illegal | It is illegal to possess, grow, distribute to sell cannabis in the UK. Cannabis is classified as a Class B drug where it is licensed for medicinal uses in specific situations | The possession of less than 1 ounce of cannabis would typically involve police issuing a warning or on-the-spot fine if the possession is deemed for personal use. Any more than this amount, the maximum penalty for possession of cannabis is five years in prison and an unlimited fine. Persons found to be involved in unlicensed dealing, unlicensed production and unlicensed trafficking can face a maximum of up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both. |
| United States | 19 states have legalised cannabis for recreational purposes, some states have decriminalised its uses for medical purposes only and some states have made it illegal for both recreational and medical purposes. | According to the respective state's regulation on the use of cannabis | |
| Uruguay | Legal. The law specifies that 40 grams are the maximum amount of cannabis any individual can possess for personal use. | Marijuana can only be sold in pharmacies | A prison penalty of 20 months to 10 years may be imposed on anyone who, without a permit, creates, in any way, raw materials or chemicals that can cause psychological or physical dependence. The minimum and maximum prison terms for drug-related offences are 12 to 20 months and 4 to 18 years, respectively. |
Disclaimer: The information was obtained from various countries’ government sites and is accurate as of 5 July 2022.
Consumption of Drugs Is Illegal in and Out of Singapore
While the decriminalisation of weed seems to be observed especially in Europe in recent years, Singapore maintains its stance against the drug.
According to the Attorney-General Chambers, the consumption of drugs outside is still an offence even when you consumed it overseas:
At Singapore’s immigration checkpoints, random screenings are done to see if travellers have used narcotics before coming to the country.
What Is a Controlled Drug in Singapore?
According to the Misuse of Drugs Act (MDA), “controlled drug” refers to any substance or product which is for the time being specified in Part 1, 2 or 3 of the First Schedule or anything that contains any such substance or product.
The effects of controlled drugs can be categorised as below.
What Happens if You Are Caught With Drugs in Singapore?
According to the Singapore Legal Advice, a person may be caught in the following scenarios:
| Scenarios | Offences |
|---|---|
| Drug Possession | The penalty for possessing drugs is a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment or a fine of $20,000 or both. The law adopts several presumptions to facilitate drug enforcement in relation to the investigation, search, and arrest of offenders under the MDA. One may be assumed to be in possession of the drugs for the purpose of trafficking if the amount of drugs in their possession exceeds a threshold set forth in section 17 of the MDA. |
| Drug Consumption | The penalty for consuming either controlled or specified drugs is a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment or a fine of $20,000 or both. The distinction is significant in terms of penalties for recurrent offences even though the list of specified drugs is a subset of the list of controlled drugs. The penalty for repeat drug consumption of a controlled drug is imprisonment of at least 3 years. In cases of drug usage, laboratory results from urine and hair testing will be used to consider the possibilities of the presence of a controlled drug. The maximum penalty for refusing to produce a urine sample for a urine test is ten years in prison, a fine of $20,000, or both; the failure to provide specimens of hair for a hair test is punishable with a maximum of 2 years’ imprisonment, or a fine of $5,000 or both. Youth drug addicts aged 16 to below 21, will be placed in a 6-month residence at the Community Rehabilitation Centre upon being detained in the Drug Rehabilitation Centres. |
| Drug Consumption Apparatus | Even if a urine test came back negative, possessing equipment used for consuming restricted narcotics, such as pipes, syringes, and other utensils can result in a maximum 3-year prison sentence, a $10,000 fine, or both. |
| Drug Trafficking | The punishment ranges from incarceration and cane strokes to the required death penalty, depending on the type and quantity of drugs traded. If drug traffickers can prove that they were merely acting as couriers for the purpose of carrying, shipping, or delivering the drug, they may be able to avoid the required death penalty. In such circumstances, the drug trafficker may be sentenced to life imprisonment instead. If the drug trafficker managed to avoid the death penalty on the basis of having “substantively assisted” CNB, he would also face up to 15 strokes of the cane. |
Undoubtedly, drug trafficking is the most serious offence with the death penalty a possibility, depending on the drug and quantity possessed.
From a purely personal finance perspective, it’s probably not worth the risk.
Legally, it goes without saying that smoking/smuggling weed into Singapore has serious consequences.
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