Myanmar authorities raided a hemp farm in the Mandalay region, arresting one American citizen and two locals and forcing several other Americans to flee.
The hemp farm was given the green light to grow and research CBD for medicinal purposes after seeking an application from the regional Mandalay government.
Federal authorities busted the hemp plantation though after it was allegedly found to be growing marijuana plants.
In Myanmar, drug offenses carry lengthy prison sentences or even the possibility of the death penalty.
Thailand’s drug laws have loosened in past year after the country legalized both medical cannabis and CBD.
The Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control said they had found 350,000 cannabis plants on the property.
The company, III M Global Nutraceutical, issued a statement disputing the government’s claim that they were growing marijuana plants and not hemp.
Cannabis is listed as a narcotic drug under Myanmar’s 1993 Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law, no matter if it is of the psychoactive or non-psychoactive variety.
Myanmar law also states, however, that the production of narcotics “with the consent of the relevant ministry” is not against the law.
Since the case opened in May, it is still unclear whether or not the farm was growing cannabis plants of the marijuana or CBD variety.
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