'Like Chocolate Cookies'... Group Hospitalization of Children Who Ate 'Daemakuki' in Thailand

Thailand Legalizes Cannabis, Allows Home Cultivation
Food and Drug Administration: "Only Approved Products Should Be Purchased"

Children who ate snacks containing cannabis ingredients in Thailand were collectively hospitalized, prompting authorities to issue a warning. Cannabis is legal in Thailand.

According to the Bangkok Post on the 2nd, the Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that on March 30 (local time), many children in the southern region were hospitalized after consuming cannabis cookies containing an excessive amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a psychoactive chemical. THC is the main component of marijuana that produces narcotic effects.

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The FDA stated, "We received reports that children became ill and were hospitalized after eating smuggled chocolate cookies," and urged parents to be especially cautious at home.

Authorities revealed that unauthorized products not approved by the FDA were found, and it is presumed that these products were smuggled into Thailand without going through official customs procedures.

They did not disclose how many children consumed these cookies or the distribution channels involved.

Thailand became the first country in Asia to legalize medical cannabis in 2018. Subsequently, from June last year, cannabis was removed from the list of narcotics and home cultivation was permitted. However, if the THC content in cannabis products exceeds 0.2%, they are classified as illegal narcotics.

Since the legalization of cannabis, various food products containing cannabis ingredients have been sold in Thailand. According to regulations, foods containing cannabis ingredients must be approved by the FDA, and the THC content per product must not exceed 1.6 mg.

The FDA emphasized, "Consumers should only purchase approved products and must read the product packaging to verify whether it contains cannabis," adding, "Cannabis-containing food products must display ingredients and warning messages on the packaging."