Certain cannabis-related activities are no longer illegal in Thailand, so inmates arrested for cannabis offenses are being released. The Department of Corrections says it is working with the courts to release approximately 3,000 inmates.
Over 3,000 defendants arrested on single cannabis-related charges have been released after the court issues a warrant.
Those detained pending court decisions will have their cases dismissed as well, and inmates arrested in cases involving cannabis offenses, among other charges, will have their cannabis-related sentences reduced.
At a Ministry of Justice executive meeting last week, Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin directed relevant agencies to expedite the release of eligible inmates.
Previously, the Department of Corrections worked with prison guards to submit release requests to the court in order to expedite the issuance of release warrants.
