BANGKOK: The Thai parliament has launched an investigation into the mysterious planting of cannabis on parliament grounds that was discovered after a storm uprooted a tree in the area.
The Parliament's secretariat is now probing to see who did the planting and threatened to take legal action, if the act is deemed to have broken any laws.
The plants were spotted last Friday by former Democrat MP Watchara Phetthong and former senator Somboon Thongburan as they were inspecting a banyan tree that was uprooted during heavy rain last Wednesday night.
They found about 100 seedlings of the cannabis plant that was decriminalised early last month. Some of the plants were found in small pots while others were planted around large trees in front of the Parliament's courtyard.
According to a report in the Bangkok Post, it is yet to be ascertained how the seedlings turned up in the parliament compound or who was responsible.
The seedlings, some of which have grown up to three inches long, were removed by Parliament police after the matter was highlighted.
Parliament secretariat spokesman Yutthana Samphaongern said security camera footage was being reviewed and gardeners and ground keepers are also being interviewed to shed more light on the matter.
He believes the seedlings must have been planted after Wednesday as they could not withstand the strong winds and heavy rain.
Watchara said those who planted the cannabis seedlings must be experienced but pointed out that the parliament compound was not an appropriate place to grow the plant.
Meanwhile in another development, Thailand's National Tobacco Products Control Board is expected to announce regulations prohibiting the mixing of cannabis in cigarettes or cigars.
According to the Post, the regulations are for tobacco producers and importers in the country and Thai Customs also warned that all cannabis exports from Thailand are strictly prohibited.
Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who is also the chairman of the Board, said the board had agreed to enforce the regulation to control the ingredients used in tobacco products, as well as the chemicals that are produced when they are burned.
To prevent the abuse of cannabis, the regulations also restrict manufacturers and importers from distributing or importing tobacco products that contain cannabidiol (CBD) oil.
CBD oil is a substance that is extracted from cannabis and hemp, or tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the cannabis' psychoactive ingredient.
Anutin said the government's decision to decriminalise cannabis in June had created opportunities for people to use the plant for recreational purposes.
But he warned that if minors tried to smoke cannabis-based cigarettes, they may have problems studying and recognising their emotions.
"So we have to regulate the ingredients used in tobacco products to guard against addiction and harmful health effects," said Anutin.
Thai Customs principal adviser Chaiyut Kumkun said imports of cannabis and hemp must follow all customs procedures despite the plants having been decriminalised.
He said there have been attempts to smuggle cannabis and hemp into the country and warned that violators can be jailed and fined up to 500,000 baht.
He added that exporting cannabis and hemp can be controversial as many countries still list the plants as illegal narcotics.