Thailand cannabis: Kingdom moves to ban recreational cannabis use, 18 months after historic decriminalization

Bangkok, Thailand CNN — Thailand's new government is moving ahead to pass new legisalation banning cannabis for recreational use in a major reversal 18 months after the country became the first in Asia to decriminalize the plant. The relaxed laws saw a lucrative cannabis industry catering to locals and foreigners alike boom across the Southeast Asian nation, but a new conservative coalition government came to power late last year vowing to tighten the rules and only allow medical use. A draft bill was released on Tuesday by Thailand's health ministry outlining hefty fines or prison sentences of up to one…